Womens 2007 World Cup; match 15

Group D, 15/9/07 in Wuhan.

Denmark v. New Zealand

Denmark: H.Johansen, M.Olsen, K.Pedersen, G.Andersen, B.Falk, J.Rydahl-Bukh, C.Paaske-Sorensen (J.Madsen 86), A.Dot Eggers Nielsen, M.Gajhede (M.Pape 45), J.Rasmussen (C.sand 72), M.Pedersen.

New Zealand: J.Bindon, R.Percival (E.Humphries 70), M.Jackman, R.Smith, A.Erceg, P.Duncan, H.Moorwood (A.Longo 87), M.Oostdam, E.McColl, A.Riley, W.Henderson (R.Tegg 64).

With New Zealand committed to a rearguard action from the first whistle and Denmark looking laboured in their attacking ideas this was one of the more lacklustre games of the tournament so far.

Denmark were generally pedestrian in their attacking play and showed little invention in the final third of the pitch. Not surprisingly when the game did spring to life it was Catherine Paaske-Sorensen at the centre of the action.

Perhaps frustrated by her forward colleagues Paaske-Sorensen took matters into her own hands on 18 minutes with a bolt from the blue and was unlucky to see her 30 yard thunderbolt cannon back from the crossbar.

The same player also came close midway through the first half with a brave header from a left wing centre but the effort was just too high.

Mia Olsen strode out of defence to play a neat one two before sending in a dipping shot that was plucked out of the air in fine style by Jenny Bindon.

Unable to work openings Denmark began trying to play balls in behind the New Zealand defence from deeper positions but found Bindon alive to the danger and the New Zealand keeper came outside her box to sweep away danger on several occasions.

Just before half time Denmark finally managed to put together a good move, orchestrated by Anne Dot Eggers Nielsen, but this time it was the defender Rebecca Smith who cut out the threat with a fine interception at the near post.

The opening 45 minutes had been an exercise in frustration for the Danes as they looked to bounce back from their defeat to China in the opening round of matches.

Denmark introduced Maiken Pape at the start of the second half but the centre forward who had looked sluggish against China continued in the same vein with a bad miss early in the half.

Paaske-Sorensen stole in from the left to fire goalwards and although a defender managed to block the shot the ball deflected across the penalty area straight onto Pape's head right in front of goal. From six yards out the forward headed over, however.

Denmark finally broke through just after the hour mark. Pape got to a through ball ahead of Bindon and Maia Jackman on the edge of the area and was brought down by the defender who was booked.

Katrine Pedersen stepped forward to whip a fine free kick over the wall and into the net despite Bindon getting a despairing hand to the ball.

Five minutes later Pedersen swung another free kick to the far post from the left hand angle of the penalty area and Paaske-Sorensen stole in to head back across goal and into the far corner.

The rest of the game was something of a non event as New Zealand found it impossible to force the pace and Denmark looked content to take a two goal victory.

Not a match to live long in the memory.

Full Time: Denmark 2 New Zealand 0