Denmark’s talismanic skipper Pernille Harder discovered the online thrice in her facet’s 2-0 Women’s World Cup Group D victory over Haiti on Tuesday, but when there was any disappointment that two of these objectives had been disallowed, the ahead didn’t present it.
The scoreline in Perth ensures, for the primary time since 1995, Denmark’s passage to the knockout stage the place a date awaits in Sydney with co-host Australia on Monday.
“It’s a long time since we came here, first of all, to qualify for a World Cup, but now we’re also playing the round of 16,” the 30-year-old informed reporters.
“It’s big for us and that’s why I’m so proud of the whole team, but, of course, we’re hungry for more.”
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The Matildas, contemporary off a 4-0 demolition of Olympic champion Canada, current the sternest take a look at but for Lars Sondergaard’s workforce, which beat China however fell quick in opposition to Group D table-toppers England.
“We have played Australia twice in the last couple of years, and Sam Kerr played in both of those games,” the Denmark coach stated, acknowledging the menace posed by the Australia captain, getting back from damage.
“So we know how to deal with her, even though it’s difficult.”
It was a sentiment shared by Harder, a former teammate of Kerr’s at Chelsea.
“I’ve been lucky to play with her for two years, she’s an amazing player and an amazing person. I look forward to seeing her but not playing against her,” stated Harder.
“She’s a great striker, she knows where the goal is, and she has some unbelievable skills with her headers, that’s for sure.”
The Danes can take coronary heart from the impeccable type of their very own captain, who earned her maiden World Cup objective with a Twenty first-minute penalty in opposition to Haiti.
A cheeky half-volley into the online was shortly dominated out as a consequence of an offside simply earlier than halftime, however the VAR reversal of Harder’s Eighty fifth-minute header was extra controversial.
Denmark ahead Signe Bruun fouled Haiti goalkeeper Kerly Theus exterior the field, and amidst the chaos, substitute Mille Gejl’s cross from the precise was guided house by Harder.
“Too bad for Pernille,” Sondergaard quipped. “It might have been a objective, however she’s a workforce participant. It’s good for her to attain, however I believe it’s a lot nicer for her that we got here by way of.
