Denmark see off Austria in riveting encounter
Image: Travis Torres
Denmark beat Austria 4-2 in a riveting, evenly-matched encounter on Day 5 of the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup.
Seconds after the start, Denmark almost took the lead after an Austria pass was intercepted and played off the boards into the path of a Denmark player who then blazed over the bar.
A strike from distance then smashed off the post as Denmark edged closer to opening the scoring, before Austria did just that with their opening attack of the game.
After some quick passing stretched the Denmark team, an Austria player found themselves in space in the centre of the park to drill home a shot through the Austria goalkeeper’s legs.
Moments later, Austria extended their lead from the penalty spot after the Denmark goalkeeper strayed out of their area.
With her side two goals down, the Denmark captain took the game by the scruff of the neck, winding up a powerful strike that sailed by the Austria goalkeeper to make it 2-1.
|Image: Travis Torres
A brilliant Denmark challenge close to their own area snuffed out a promising Austria attack, before a Denmark chance on half-time at the other end saw a shot skewed wide from close range.
Not long after the restart, Denmark were level. Some quick-thinking at a freekick saw a player with acres of space on the edge of the area to slot home past the Austria goalkeeper.
The Austria goalkeeper was then called into action, saving a shot with their legs from point blank range, before Denmark got their noses in front with a well worked goal down the right-hand flank.
With Denmark spraying the ball around the park with confidence, Austria found it difficult to engineer any clear-cut chances to draw level.
With a minute left, another howitzer from distance from the Denmark captain flew by the Austria goalkeeper into the net to secure them an emotional 4-2 victory.
Speaking after the match, Denmark manager Astrid Jakobsen said: “Both teams played really well but I really think we deserved it. We’ve had some really tough few days so it was really nice to get the win. It’s a good boost for our team spirit. The team deserved the victory so much.”
Speaking about the match and the tournament in general, an emotional Denmark player Sara Kit Heiberg added: “It was amazing to be on the field again. It was a great match. My experience of the tournament has been very good but it has also been very emotional.
"A lot of us have people at home who we are missing and we have struggles and stuff so the nerves have been quite big and the emotions have been running wild but I think we got it all out now and now we are ready to play football and I hope people could see that today, because that was what we were feeling.
"We were playing football today. We gave everything today and we are ready for tomorrow. I’m so proud of the girls.”
Words: Craig Williams
Images: Travis Torres