Pernille Harder’s second-half goal ensured Denmark kept their hopes of progressing from Group B alive as they overcame a determined Finland at Euro 2022.
With both nations seeking to respond to heavy opening-game defeats and reignite their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals, it was the 2017 finalists who deservedly prevailed at Stadium MK.
Finland were later knocked out of the tournament following group leaders Germany’s 2-0 win over Spain – which set up a winner-takes-all meeting between Denmark and Spain on Saturday.
Chelsea forward Harder eventually ended Finland’s resistance in the 72nd minute, heading in from close range after Karen Holmgaard’s attempt had rebounded off the crossbar.
Lars Sondergaard’s dominant side had found themselves frustrated in their efforts to force a breakthrough.
Forward Nadia Nadim went closest in the first half as she directed Sara Thrige’s low cross towards goal – but Finland goalkeeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela managed to prevent the ball from trickling into the bottom corner.
A slick attacking move also resulted in Katrine Veje’s low drive from the edge of the penalty area being saved by Korpela before the interval, while the Finnish skipper also denied Holmgaard midway through the second period.
Finland did not register an attempt on target until the 60th minute, however they were prevented from delivering a dramatic late twist as Lene Christensen pushed substitute Jenny-Julia Danielsson’s strike over the bar in stoppage time.
Danes find breakthrough
The odds of a successful group campaign were already against these two nations before the opening round of fixtures, when Denmark were thrashed 4-0 by eight-time winners Germany and tournament favourites Spain recovered from an early setback to overcome Finland 4-1.
With victory crucial to both sides, Denmark offered the greater attacking threat from the start but they were initially unable to make their superiority count despite 10 first-half attempts.
By far their best opportunity fell to Nadim after 12 minutes, but the 34-year-old – who fled Afghanistan as a child refugee more than 20 years ago – could not get enough power behind her first-time shot, allowing the busy Korpela enough time to scramble across her goal to save.
Nadim was again unable to add the finishing touch to another dangerous move as Finland were immediately put under pressure after the restart, while Ria Oling’s strike from distance was comfortable for Christensen when Anna Signeul’s team finally registered a shot of their own.
Harder, who failed to register a strike against Germany, had struggled to make an impact, while only goalkeeper Christensen had fewer touches of the ball than striker Signe Bruun before her 64th-minute substitution as Denmark failed to produce the necessary quality in the final third.
But they finally went ahead when Harder seized her chance – the ball dropping kindly off the bar for the 29-year-old to finish – with the goal triggering jubilant scenes among the Danish players and substitutes by the side of the pitch.
Christensen’s late intervention to deny Danielsson meant Denmark’s fate remains in their own hands heading into their final group match against Spain, with the winner of that match set to face Group A winners England in the last eight.
Player of the match
SeveckeRikke Sevecke
Denmark
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Squad number4Player nameSeveckeAverage rating
7.25
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Squad number13Player nameJungeAverage rating
7.24
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Squad number1Player nameChristensen
Average rating7.17
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Squad number10Player nameHarder
Average rating7.15
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Squad number20Player nameBruun
Average rating6.79
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Squad number23Player nameSvava
Average rating6.78
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Squad number19Player nameThomsen
Average rating6.65
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Squad number11Player nameVeje
Average rating6.55
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Squad number2Player nameThrige
Average rating6.50
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Squad number3Player namePedersen
Average rating6.43
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Squad number5Player nameBoye
Average rating6.26
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Squad number14Player nameBredgaard
Average rating6.20
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Squad number9Player nameNadim
Average rating6.13
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Squad number7Player nameTroelsgaard
Average rating5.56
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Squad number12Player nameLarsen
Average rating5.43
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Squad number6Player nameHolmgaard
Average rating5.39
Finland
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Squad number23Player nameKorpela
Average rating5.57
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Squad number5Player nameKoivisto
Average rating5.07
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Squad number4Player nameÖling
Average rating5.00
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Squad number19Player nameSainio
Average rating4.93
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Squad number2Player namePikkujämsä
Average rating4.93
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Squad number17Player nameFranssi
Average rating4.83
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Squad number18Player nameSällström
Average rating4.83
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Squad number8Player nameAhtinen
Average rating4.73
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Squad number10Player nameAlanen
Average rating4.71
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Squad number15Player nameKuikka
Average rating4.64
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Squad number20Player nameSummanen
Average rating4.64
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Squad number16Player nameWesterlund
Average rating4.29
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Squad number13Player nameDanielsson
Average rating4.29
Line-ups
Denmark
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Christensen
- 4SeveckeBooked at 66mins
- 3Pedersen
- 11Veje
- 2ThrigeSubstituted forSvavaat 56′minutes
- 7TroelsgaardSubstituted forHolmgaardat 64′minutes
- 13Junge
- 19Thomsen
- 9NadimSubstituted forBredgaardat 56′minutes
- 20BruunSubstituted forLarsenat 64′minutes
- 10HarderSubstituted forBoyeat 87′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Boye
- 6Holmgaard
- 8Holmgaard
- 12Larsen
- 14Bredgaard
- 16Svane
- 17Madsen
- 18Gewitz
- 21Gejl Jensen
- 22Worsøe
- 23Svava
Finland
Formation 4-4-2
- 23Korpela
- 5Koivisto
- 16WesterlundSubstituted forDanielssonat 90′minutes
- 15Kuikka
- 2Pikkujämsä
- 19Sainio
- 20Summanen
- 10Alanen
- 4Öling
- 18SällströmSubstituted forAhtinenat 77′minutes
- 17Franssi
Substitutes
- 1Talaslahti
- 6Auvinen
- 8Ahtinen
- 9Kemppi
- 11Heroum
- 12Tamminen
- 13Danielsson
- 14Kollanen
- 21Rantanen
- 22Rantala
- Referee:
- Iuliana Elena Demetrescu
- Attendance:
- 11,615
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Denmark Women 1, Finland Women 0.
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Second Half ends, Denmark Women 1, Finland Women 0.
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Corner, Finland Women. Conceded by Lene Christensen.
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Attempt saved. Jenny-Julia Danielsson (Finland Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Eveliina Summanen.
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Substitution, Finland Women. Jenny-Julia Danielsson replaces Anna Westerlund.
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Substitution, Denmark Women. Simone Boye replaces Pernille Harder.
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Attempt missed. Natalia Kuikka (Finland Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Elli Pikkujämsä following a set piece situation.
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Foul by Sofie Bredgaard (Denmark Women).
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Ria Öling (Finland Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt missed. Olga Ahtinen (Finland Women) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the left. Assisted by Essi Sainio.
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Foul by Sofie Svava (Denmark Women).
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Emma Koivisto (Finland Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Sofie Svava (Denmark Women).
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Emma Koivisto (Finland Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Finland Women. Olga Ahtinen replaces Linda Sällström.
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Foul by Rikke Sevecke (Denmark Women).
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Eveliina Summanen (Finland Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Katrine Veje (Denmark Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Linda Sällström (Finland Women).
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Goal! Denmark Women 1, Finland Women 0. Pernille Harder (Denmark Women) header from very close range to the bottom right corner.
