Denmark 2-2 Sweden

[tigerofsweden]

Sweden and Denmark progressed to the quarter-finals after Mattias Jonson hooked in a late equaliser for the Swedes to send Italy out of Euro 2004.

Jon Dahl Tomasson fired Denmark into a first-half lead with a brilliant dipping volley from 20 yards out.

Henrik Larsson scored from the spot after the break to equalise for Sweden, but Tomasson restored Denmark's lead with a drilled shot inside the area.

Jonson then scored at the death to send Sweden through to the last eight.

Denmark will now face the Czech Republic in Sunday's quarter-final, while Sweden will face the runners-up of Group D - Holland, Germany or Latvia - but without the help of defender Erik Edman who is unavailable after picking up a second yellow card.

In the build-up to the game, both sides had strenuously denied suggestions that they would play for a draw to eliminate Italy from the tournament.

And it was clear early on that no Scandanavian pact had been signed as Sweden and Denmark sought to attack.

The slippery conditions in Porto made it difficult for both sets of players, but Denmark dealt with the situation far better and dominated possession in the opening period.

The Danes carried the greater threat, with Thomas Gravesen working overtime in midfield, while Tomasson, Ebbe Sand and Jesper Gronkjaer foraged tirelessly in attack.

KEY MOMENTS

28 mins: Jon Dahl Tomasson brilliantly lobs Andreas Isaksson

39 mins: Sweden defender Olof Mellberg's header hits the post

47 mins: Sweden striker Henrik Larsson converts from the penalty spot

66 mins: Tomasson fires Denmark back into the lead

88 mins: Mattias Jonson hooks in a late equaliser for Sweden

The first real opportunity fell to Gronkjaer when a slip by Andreas Jakobsson allowed Tomasson's pass to reach the Chelsea winger, but he fired into the side-netting.

Sweden, who had looked so compact in their opening two games, looked disjointed with Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic barely involved in the game.

It was no surprise therefore when Denmark took the lead, but the finish was completely unexpected.

Gravesen won possession back for Denmark before finding Sand, who flicked the ball into the path of Tomasson.

The AC Milan striker spotted that Andreas Isaksson had come off his line and, after controlling the ball with his chest, struck a brilliant dipping volley into the top left-hand corner of the Sweden goal.

The goal was no less than Denmark deserved for their endeavour but the goal stung Sweden into action.

Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, in outstanding form for Denmark, made a brilliant double save to first deny Larsson and then Ibrahimovic as Sweden poured on the pressure.

Sorensen was beaten by Olof Mellberg's header on the stroke of half time, but the ball bounced off the post and out of harm's way.

However, Sorensen was not so lucky immediately after the interval when referee Markus Merk deemed he had brought down the onrushing Larsson in the area.

The decision was harsh, especially since television replays showed that Sorensen had not made contact with Larsson, who converted the penalty kick with aplomb.

The equaliser galvanised the Swedes, but Denmark refused to let their misfortune dampen their spirits and soon restored their lead when Tomasson grabbed his second of the evening.

Substitute Kasper Bogelund struck a Denmark corner into a sea of Swedish bodies and the ball rebounded into the path of the lurking Tomasson, who drilled his shot low to the right of Isaksson.

Yet Sweden rallied and made sure of their place in the quarter-finals as Group C winners with a late equaliser.

Sorensen failed to hold Christian Wilhelmsson's cross and Jonson poked the ball home after a goalmouth scramble to send the Sweden's fans into raptures. :o .. :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot:

[Frankenchrist]

It's nice to see Italy crash out. Theire players do too much diving to deserve to be in the finals, so everything is as it should be.

[Plarkster]

Dammit, and I've got Sorensen in my fantasy team :(

Congrats to Sweden and Denmark for getting through.

[SAMeAiM]

It was a really good game !

It was only (bad luck?) that sweden made a goal in the last minutes but again we both got in to the quarter-final witch is nice :D

Im from DK, so i saw the game on the TV :cool:

[tomwarren Veteran]

The Italy game was funnier, to watch them score and find out it didn't matter! LOL.

Glad they're out, all they ever do is dive and whine.

[Toxicfume Veteran]

Sucks for Italy to lose. Tey seemed to go forward pretty well in the second half, but once there they handled the game quite carelessly. Ah well.

[Steve]

The Italy game was funnier, to watch them score and find out it didn't matter! LOL.

Glad they're out, all they ever do is dive and whine.

Amen, i am DAMN evil, but who gives a sh!t... that was CLASS, i was praying for Italy to score once it went to 2-2! :laugh:

[Kriz]

Cmon Larsson :D

I got a ?5 bet that hes the top scorer:pp

[Sumi]

2 x Tomasson <--- Danish Pride right there!

Good to be in the quarterfinals - sux to lose in the last few minutes of the game...

[DoNuTs]

Sumi: We did not "lose" Both SE and DK Won ! ( In my eyes )

[Dogan]

Yay for Sweden! :)

I hope they meet Germany next..

[Sumi]

Sumi: We did not "lose" Both SE and DK Won ! ( In my eyes )

Ok ok - So its not a defeat - But it fealt like it, with Jonson putting the ball in the back of the net with so little time left...

You try facing the Czech Republic the quarterfinals! THAT WILL BE TOUGH!

-EDIT oh wait - your from Denmark! You will get to face Czech...

[tomwarren Veteran]

Amen, i am DAMN evil, but who gives a sh!t... that was CLASS, i was praying for Italy to score once it went to 2-2! :laugh:

LOL me too!

[Fiskarn]

Hehe its going to be fun watching the frontpages tomorrow :) Italy is going to bitch all day long about it being a fixed match :)

anyway congrats to denmark for going trough to the Quater Finals :woot:

[DoNuTs]

Ok ok - So its not a defeat - But it fealt like it, with Jonson putting the ball in the back of the net with so little time left...

You try facing the Czech Republic the quarterfinals! THAT WILL BE TOUGH!

-EDIT oh wait - your from Denmark! You will get to face Czech...

:rofl: :laugh:

We will win fo' sho' ! Denmark haven't won any matches in the Euro Tournament since 1996 :blink:

So 2004 looks like a great year for us, maybe we will pull a 92' on you all :laugh:

[Etc.]

teheh, that's funny to see a Dane write "fo' sho'" :rofl:

I was actually able to see some of this game tonight at dinner because it was on at the pizza place I was eating at. I already knew the result, but it was still cool to finally catch a game.

btw, donuts, your sig looks too damn delicious.

[insanekiwi]

i loved the game. and italy can drive home now !!!! lol

[ctebah]

sad, I was cheering for Italy all the way.

[DoNuTs]

teheh, that's funny to see a Dane write "fo' sho'" :rofl:

I was actually able to see some of this game tonight at dinner because it was on at the pizza place I was eating at. I already knew the result, but it was still cool to finally catch a game.

btw, donuts, your sig looks too damn delicious.

He's laughing at me :cry:

fo' shizzle!

I think Denmark against Sweden was one of the most interesting matches in Euro2004, did anyone notice when Denmark scored, Bulgaria scored. When Swden scored Italy scored :blink:

I think it's scary how even SE and DK is, Don't you think guys ?

And by the way, about my sig. You can look, but you cannot touch :shifty:

Donut-izzle signing out-sizzle :huh:

[Sumi]

Well if we are going to win Euro 2004 - We must be able to defeat everyone!

Czech+Nedved here we come! :devil: