SPORTS: Denmark 2 Portugal 3 (THE SUN)

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Denmark 2 Portugal 3 (THE SUN)

SUPERSUB ... Portugal's Silvestre Varela celebrates his late winner

Published: Today at 18:57

SILVESTRE VARELA scored a dramatic 87th-winner to get Portugal's Euro 2012 campaign back on track.

The Portuguese looked to have thrown away a two-goal lead when Nicklas Bendtner scored the second of two close-range headers to draw the Danes level in the 80th minute.

But Varela earned Paulo Bento's side all three points when he smashed home from close range.

PORTU-GOAL ... Pepe heads the Portuguese into the lead

Portugal had taken a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to assists from Manchester United midfielder Nani.

Real Madrid star Pepe lost his marker from a corner and powered a header past keeper Stephan Andersen in the 24th minute.

And Portugal doubled their lead 12 minutes later when Helder Postiga got in front of defender Simon Kjaer to turn home Nani's pass from close range.

FIRST PAST THE POST ... Helder Postiga scores Portugal's second

Christian Eriksen registered Denmark’s first shot on target to draw a save from Rui Patricio but the Portugal goalkeeper was helpless to prevent the Danes from pulling one back four minutes before half-time.

Jakob Poulsen’s hanging cross to the far post picked out Michael Krohn-Dehli who headed back across goal for Bendtner to nod home his 19th international goal in his 50th appearance.

Portugal should have re-established their cushion five minutes into the second half after Kjaer’s misjudgement of Nani’s crossfield pass sent Ronaldo racing clear but he shot too close to Andersen.

HEAD BOY ... Nicklas Bendtner scores Denmark's first goal

Another mistake, this time by Eriksen, gave the ball to Postiga and only a perfectly-timed tackle from Daniel Agger prevented the striker breaking into the penalty area.

William Kvist drilled a long-range shot narrowly wide, Bendtner scuffed one off target while substitute Tobias Mikkelsen, on after Dennis Rommedahl’s hamstring injury, started to find joy down the right as Denmark began to push harder for the equaliser.

IN THE NICK OF TIME ... Nicklas Bendtner equalises for Denmark

Ronaldo’s frustrating tournament continued as he should have wrapped up victory 12 minutes from time when put clean through by Nani but shot wide with only Andersen to beat.

And he was punished for that mistake as Bendtner’s far-post header from Lars Jacobsen’s deep cross proved too powerful for Patricio to keep out.

But there was a further twist three minutes from time when substitute Varela rammed home with his second attempt to convert Fabio Coentrao’s left-wing cross.