Denmark-Malta 6-0

Denmark: K. Schmeichel, P. Ankersen, A. Bjelland, D. Agger, T. Delaney, C. Sloth (L. Andreasen), W. Kvist, C. Eriksen (K. Kusk), M. Krohn-Delhi, E. Larsen, M. Rasmussen (N. Nielsen).

Malta: J. Haber, A. Muscat, A. Agius, C. Failla, R. Briffa, M. Mifsud, E. Herrera (R. Fenech), A. Schembri, J. Mintoff, R. Muscat, R. Camilleri.

Referee: A. Stavrev (Macedonia)

Asst refs: M. Kirovski, D. Kostadinov.

4th official: D. Jakimovski

Scorers: Rasmussen 8, 75, Agger 11, 39 pens, Bjelland 28,

Yellow cards: A. Agius, J. Mintoff, D. Agger

Malta ended its commitments in this very difficult European Group B of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers with a heavy and humiliating 6-0 defeat in Denmark.

Malta obtained just three points – a 1-0 victory against Armenia in Yerevan last June – as the other matches all ended in defeats.

We all were aware that this would be a difficult match – as all matches are, after all. But after the encouraging performance against the same opponents at Ta’ Qali last month, one expected to see a more confident Malta side facing the Danes in their own den.

Having seen the two matches between Malta and Denmark, I might be allowed to say that yesterday’s Danish team was certainly not the same seen at Ta’ Qali a month earlier.

Sensing that they had a remote chance of making it to the play-offs, the Danes played an attacking game right from the first whistle and made their intentions clear as they scored two early goals that killed all the confidence the Maltese might have had before kick off.

From then on, there was only one team in the picture and the match became one-sided with the Danes in absolute control and Malta struggling to stop the onslaught.

It was only in the second half, and in a few brief moments, that we managed to create some anxious moments in the Danish defence.

We might have been lucky to have suffered just four goals in a first half completely dominated by the Danes – we had only one effort on goal in that half.

It was on both flanks and in goal that the Malta team appeared very vulnerable. Haber effected a couple of bad sorties but also made some excellent saves. The two flanks were under continuous pressure from Ankersen, Larsen, Eriksen and Krohn-Delhi, whose swiftness caused a lot of trouble to the defence.

In the second half, Denmark appeared happy with the result and administered the match in midfield, but were still dangerous when they pressed forward, adding two more goals in the last 15 minutes.

Andre Schembri was back in the Malta starting line up after missing the match against the Czech Republic last Friday through suspension. Edward Herrera was also back from injury being preferred to Andrew Cohen.

At the back, central defender Luke Dimech was left on the bench.

Denmark quickly took the lead when after eight minutes, Larsen’s cross came to the unmarked Rasmussen whose header was partially saved by Haber, but the same player was on hand to hit home easily.

Three minutes later, the referee was harsh in awarding a penalty to Denmark when Krohn Delhi appeared to have been floored by Mintoff just outside the area.  From the spotkick, Daniel Agger made no mistake to make it 2-0.

The Danes insisted with their pressure and on the 13th minute, Eriksen advanced unhindered into the Malta area, but his final effort was blocked to corner by Ryan Camilleri.

Four minutes later, after a good Failla long pass, Michael Mifsud was crowded out by three defenders on his way into the Danish area.

In the 25th minute, it was Larsen who just missed the target with a shot from 20 metres.

Eriksen was then involved in a mazy dribble into the Malta area but Agius managed to block to a corner.

On the 28th minute, the Danes scored a third goal. Ankersen’s cross was completely missed by Haber and Bjelland headed into untenanted net.

On 35 minutes, Malta finally managed a first shot at goal. It was Clayton Failla who saw his shot from about 30 metres being turned to corner by Danish goalie Schmeichel.

Rasmussen almost made it 4-0 a few moments later, but his shot passed across goal, missing the upright by a few centimetres.

In the 37th minute, it became 4-0 as the Macedonian referee ordered another penalty after Andrei Agius floored Larsen in the area. Agger again converted the spotkick.

Two minutes from the interval, Rasmussen was face to face with Haber, but the Malta goalie managed to turn the ball to a corner.

The second half started with an excellent save by Haber off a fine effort from Kvist. And in the 53rd minute, it was substitute Kusk who went close with a low shot that went just wide.

On 73 minutes, Denmark had another opportunity through Andreasen, but his effort went wide. But two minutes later, it was 5-0 as Rasmussen flicked the ball into the net after Haber had parried a shot by Larsen.

At the other end, Mifsud had a shot passing across goal but that was the closest Malta went to scoring.

In the 81st minute, Malta’s best move involving Mifsud, Muscat and Briffa, ended with a weak shot from the Valletta midfielder, easily saved by Schmeichel. Mifsud was then set by Schembri, but he hesitated and Delaney recovered in time to clear to corner.

Nicki Nielsen scored the sixth goal on 85 minutes after receiving a perfect pass from Kvist.