Dublin: Denmark’s Christian Eriksen scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 thrashing of a disjointed Ireland in their play-off second leg here Tuesday to secure the final European berth at next year’s World Cup in Russia.
The visitors trailed to an early Shane Duffy header but took control immediately and struck twice in three minutes, first when Andreas Christensen’s stabbed effort on the half-hour mark hit the post and went in off Ireland’s Cyrus Christie.
That was followed by a superbly swept home second from Eriksen, who then made sure of victory with a left-footed effort on 64 minutes and completed his hat-trick following poor defending 10 minutes later.
Nicklas Bendtner added a late penalty for the Danes, who reached their fifth World Cup having been frustrated by a well-organised Irish display in a scrappy goalless first leg.
“We were well beaten in the end, no question about that… The goals were so sloppy,” Ireland manager Martin O’Neill told national broadcaster ‘RTE’.
It had all looked so different for Ireland when Duffy took advantage of some poor defending to put the hosts ahead. Nicolai Jorgensen sliced an innocuous long free-kick towards his own goal and into the path of the Brighton and Hove Albion defender who beat Kasper Schmeichel to the ball and sent the packed Aviva Stadium wild.
Denmark refused to panic, however, sewing fears among the home fans that they scored too early as Ireland keeper and first leg man of the match Darren Randolph saved well from William Kvist and Pione Sisto after his defence was carved open.
But then the floodgates opened for the Danes and they scored at will to extend Ireland’s 16-year World Cup appearance drought.
Aussies seal spot
Sydney: Hosts Australia beat Honduras 3-1 in the second leg of their inter-continental play-off Wednesday to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Russia. Captain Mile Jedinak scored a second half hat-trick to put the Socceroos on course for a 3-1 aggregate victory after the first leg in San Pedro Sula last week finished goalless. Alberto Elis netted an injury time consolation goal for the visitors.
