Dominant Danes stretch lead

By Peter Bruun

Denmark are now six points clear with a game in hand in UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying Group 2 thanks to a spectacular victory in Farum, just north of Copenhagen.

Gap opens
Not only did the Danes cruise to victory, but their nearest challengers before today, Greece and Turkey, both lost. Ukraine, victors in Athens, are now in second with Denmark, eight points ahead of Greece and Turkey, aware that only one more win is required for them to reach the play-offs.

First-half goals
Dominant from the start without initially creating chances, Denmark finally opened the scoring on 22 minutes as Morten Rasmussen flicked on Nicolai Høgh's corner for Martin Jensen to head in. Two minutes before the break a corner was played to Jonas Kamper on the edge of the area, and he made no mistake with his shot.

Sørensen strike
Only three minutes into the second half Jacob Sørensen intercepted up a goal kick from Albanian goalkeeper Ervin Llani and sent the ball back past the custodian, and two minutes later Rasmussen benefited from Llani colliding with a team-mate to roll the ball into the empty net.

Lead increases
On 63 minutes Simon Bræmer was brought down in the area, and Leon Andreasen made it 5-0 from the spot. Six minutes before the end Bræmer scored himself, set up by substitute Kasper Lorentzen, and there was still time for Andreasen to help himself to his second goal of the evening, a beautiful shot from 18 metres out.

Turkey task
With four games left to secure the win they need, Denmark next visit Turkey on 2 September. Albania, in sixth, welcome Kazakhstan the same day.