Mile Jedinak’s second penalty of the World Cup earned Australia a precious 1-1 draw against Denmark on Thursday at Samara Arena. It also keeps them alive in the tournament while for Denmark it’s quite the same scenario in the ongoing coveted event.
A controversial VAR decision led to Christian Eriksen’s superb opener being cancelled out in the jampacked Stadium of Samara owing to a Group C clash.
Yussuf Poulsen conceded his second penalty in as many games when video replays led to a decision of handball against him.
Jedinak buried the ensuing spot-kick to earn Australia their first point of the tournament.
Bert van Marwijk’s side had to grind out a draw against a Denmark side who showed flashes of brilliance. Eriksen opened the account with a stunner at the seventh minute of the play.
The Tottenham playmaker defied Denmark’s reputation as a goal-shy outfit, applying a wonderfully crisp finish, But Poulsen’s apparent handball means he will miss Denmark’s final Group C game against France.
Moroever, he picked up two yellow cards in two games. Age Hareide’s men need a point from that game to make sure of their place in the knockout stage.
Nothing short of victory will do for Australia when they take on Peru. And, they can’t afford to rely on decisions going their way as they did here.
Eriksen has been directly involved in 18 goals in his last 15 appearances for Denmark. The game was going Denmark’s way until the 35th minute when referee Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz consulted VAR.
The VAR showed Poulsen used his arm to block Mathew Leckie’s headed shot. It subsequently saw the referee deciding to award the penalty. Jedinak drilled into the bottom right corner of the net.
Jedinak is the only player in World Cup history with three-plus goals, with all goals coming on penalty kicks.
Unfortunately, Andrew Nabbout left the field with a dislocated shoulder and was replaced by Tomi Juric.
Against Australia, Denmark’s well-organised defence held firm. They earned a point that pushes them one foot in the last 16.
FT: Denmark 1-1 Australia
Eriksen 7′ | Jedinak 38′ (pen)
