Another Mile Jedinak penalty (39’) after a handball by Yussuf Poulsen levelled Christian Eriksen's early strike (7’).

Australia knew that they were facing a stiff challenge.

With the exception of a couple of friendlies not recognised by FIFA it had been 18 months and 16 matches since the Danes last tasted defeat in a 1-0 loss to Montenegro. A run that had seen them climb to 12th in the FIFA rankings.

Denmark had been forced to make one change. Midfielder William Kvist broke two ribs in the 1-0 win over Peru and his replacement Lasse Schone started the match.

Bert van Marwijk chose the same starting eleven that took to the field in the 2-1 defeat to France in the opening match. Despite the defeat they had impressed and he was looking for a similar performance but had asked them to create more goal scoring opportunities.

Initially it was Australia that was under pressure with Thomas Delaney heading an early chance wide of the far post following a cross from Pione Sisto.

In the fifth minute the Socceroos responded when Tommy Rogic earned a corner and Mathew Leckie's header from Aaron Mooy’s delivery flew just over the crossbar.

Two minutes later and Denmark took the lead. Nicolai Jorensen flicked a pass through to Christian Eriksen who ran unmarked into the box and fired past Mat Ryan from 15 metres out.


It was an ominous sign for the Socceroos but it turned out that it would be one of only a few chances that the Danes were to create.

Denmark knew that Australia would go into the match with a well organised defensive structure and initially they countered it with plenty of movement and switching positions between the defensive lines.

In the 22nd minute Sisto tried his luck from distance but Ryan had no problem covering the attempt. Moments later and Rogic fired a shot wide at the other end.

Denmark should have gone two-up two minutes later. Henrik Dalsgaard put over a perfect cross from the left that Jorgensen headed wide from six metres out when he should have buried the chance.

Robbie Kruse could have equalised in the 30th minute after excellent work by Leckie down the right but his first touch was too heavy and the opportunity was smothered by the Danish defence.

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) had worked against Australia in their opening match against France but in the 36th minute they got a break. Leckie met another Mooy corner with a header but his marker, Poulsen, had thrown an arm in the air and the ball struck it. Spanish referee Antonio Lahoz waved play on but soon got a message that he should check his decision. He changed his mind and Jedinak coolly slotted home the spot-kick.

Poulsen was cautioned for the offence and will miss Denmark’s final group match.

It was the first goal that Kasper Schmeichel had conceded in 571 minutes.

The only other scare for Australia in the first half came four minutes before half-time when an Eriksen free-kick struck Trent Sainsbury on the leg but the ball fell kindly to a grateful Ryan.

Leckie was having one of his best games for his country causing problems when running with the ball and his movement off it.

It was Denmark that created the first opening of the second half. Poulsen’s run into the penalty box ended with him tumbling under a challenge while laying off the ball to Jorgensen but his clever back-flick was hammered wide by Sisto.

Australia’s first dangerous moment of the period came when Aziz Behich made it to the goal line but his cross was cleverly headed away from Leckie by Jens Larsen.

In the 68th minute Australia came close to taking the lead when Schmeichel failed to hold on to a cross which Andrew Nabbout put dangerously back into the six yard box but Dalsgaard was in the right position to clear ahead of Kruse.

In a space of a few minutes there were then a number of chances with both sides coming close to breaking the deadlock. Mooy saw his effort from 25 metres out fly just over the bar and this was followed up moments later by a left foot shot from Rogic that was smothered by Schmeichel.  Australia was on top at that stage but Denmark countered and Sisto’s effort from just inside the penalty area curled past Ryan’s outstretched arms but also past the post.


Nabbout fell awkwardly in the 75th minute and, clutching his shoulder, was immediately replaced by Tommy Juric.

Daniel Arzani had come on for Kruse and showed his lively talent when he managed to get past Sisto on the goal line and put over a dangerous cross but there wasn’t a Socceroo in a position to get the final touch.

Australia almost found the winner in the 88th minute forcing Schmeichel into consecutive saves.  Behich broke down the middle and slotted the ball wide to Arzani who smashed a ball towards goal that the Danish keeper could only beat away.  When the ball was fed into the area again Leckie’s shot was heading towards the corner of the net but lacked the pace needed to beat the Denmark’s number one.

After his early goal Eriksen had found few opportunities but shortly before 90 minutes was completed he found some space, only to pull his shot wide.

It was the last clear chance for either side and ended an enthralling, hard-fought contest.

Australia had taken the game to their much higher ranked opponents during a strong second half performance and fully earned their draw.

They had been looking to gain a win and three points to put themselves in a good position to qualify for the knock-out stages. A draw, though, keeps those hopes alive but means that they must defeat Peru in their final Group C match in Sochi next Wednesday morning to have a chance of progressing.