Denmark bounce back against Wales in the Nations League

After beginning their Nations League campaign with a defeat to Norway, Denmark responded by beating Wales 2-0. The second-half goals, an own goal by Ben Davies and a strike from Isaksen, gave the Danes their first three points in the competition.

The victory allows Hjulmand’s Denmark to recover after the deep disappointment of their play-off elimination. Hjulmand, who played the entire match in a double pivot alongside Hojbjerg, initially saw events go against Denmark: VAR disallowed an Isaksen goal in the 24th minute, before Damsgaard hit the woodwork three minutes later.

The Danes also lost Dorgu to a physical issue around the half-hour mark. But the match changed early in the second half, through two set pieces delivered by Damsgaard from the right. In the 53rd minute, the first led to Ben Davies scoring an own goal. Isaksen then doubled the lead from a rebound with a miscued volley, in an action whose validity had to be confirmed by VAR.

Late on, Daramy, who had replaced Dorgu before half-time, missed the chance to finish into an empty net. Hojlund also had a goal ruled out with five minutes remaining. It did not matter for Denmark, who held on to their lead and claimed their first points in this Nations League.