Copenhagen: The Republic of Ireland and Denmark played out a drab 0-0 draw in the first leg of their World Cup play-off in Copenhagen on Saturday.
The closest either side came to a goal was when Pione Sisto fired wide in the first half for the hosts, while Yussuf Poulsen saw a 90th-minute header saved by Darren Randolph.
Both sides will be satisfied with the result, as Martin O’Neill’s Irish now know victory in Dublin on Tuesday would secure a first World Cup appearance since 2002, but an away goal for the Danes could prove decisive after this clean sheet.
“A draw has always got to be seen as a positive result. Although we could have done with scoring an away goal,” Ireland midfielder Harry Arter told Sky Sports.
“It (the World Cup) feels a bit closer than it did before the game. If before the campaign, we’d have been offered a one-off game against Denmark to qualify for the World Cup, we’d have bitten off your hands for it.”
Denmark coach Age Hareide left striker Nicklas Bendtner on the bench in favour of Feyenoord’s Nicolai Jorgensen.
Irish manager O’Neill made just one change from the team that beat Wales 1-0 to snatch second place in qualifying Group D last month, bringing in Bristol City midfielder Callum O’Dowda to replace the suspended David Meyler.
The hosts started strongly and could have taken the lead in the 11th minute when Randolph saved Danish left-back Jens Larsen’s volley, before quickly getting back to his feet to hold onto Andreas Cornelius’ follow-up effort.— AFP
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