Denmark survive Latvian scare

Denmark kept alive their faint hopes of a place at UEFA EURO 2008™ as they held on for a hard-fought 3-1 victory against Latvia in Copenhagen.

Frantic finish
Things appeared to be going very much to plan for Morten Olsen's team as they approached the last ten minutes two goals to the good at the Parken Stadium, courtesy of Jon Dahl Tomasson's spot-kick and a first international strike from Ulrik Laursen. Yet Kaspars Gorkss reduced the deficit to set up a frenetic finale, before Dennis Rommedahl calmed home nerves with a crisp goal a minute from time. Denmark remain five points off a top-two spot in Group F with two games to play.

Lively opening
Such a nervy end looked an unlikely scenario as the Danes got off to a dream start. Just seven minutes had gone when Oskars Klava was adjudged to have handled in the area and Tomasson made no mistake from the spot to claim his 49th international goal. At 31 and making only his second appearance for Denmark, Laursen is unlikely to match that tally but he got off the mark when he converted Rommedahl's cross on 27 minutes. The winger almost got on the scoresheet himself soon after but his 18-metre effort whizzed narrowly past the upright.

Rommedahl reward
The second half continued in much the same vein though Denmark spurned several opportunities to put the result beyond doubt. It seemed they might pay for their profligacy when Gorkss headed in substitute Jurijs Zigajevs' cross with ten minutes remaining. Rommedahl allayed any anxiety as he finally found reward for all his endeavour, latching on to Leon Andreasen's raking free-kick and firing in from the edge of the box.