Denmark take it to the wire

Denmark eased to victory in Cyprus to leave the outcome of UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group H dependant on their final match against Portugal on Tuesday. Dennis Rommedahl scored twice as the visitors roared into a four-goal lead inside 22 minutes, with Lars Jacobsen and Michael Krohn-Dehli also on the scoresheet. Andreas Avraam pulled one back in first-half stoppage time and both sides hit the post early in a second half which nevertheless saw no addition to the scoreline. Jacobsen was the surprise goalscorer in the seventh minute, the FC Copenhagen right-back popping up on the right side of the penalty area to fire into the far top corner for his first international goal. Nicklas Bendtner fired wide from 20 yards but the second was not long in coming. Rommedahl's cross was punched clear by goalkeeper Antonis Georgallides but Denmark kept the attack alive and Rommedahl met Christian Eriksen's cross right-footed to make it 2-0. Cyprus threatened for the first time when Nektarios Alexandrou's shot was blocked, but normal service was soon resumed. First left-back Simon Poulsen crossed for Michael Krohn-Dehli to fire home the third, and when Rommedahl then netted his second from Bendtner's cross it was 4-0 with not even a quarter of the game played. Thomas Sorensen saved from Konstantinos Charalambidis at the other end but Cyprus finally got on the mark just before half-time, Avraam curling home a fine effort from the corner of the penalty area. Both teams hit the woodwork early in the second period, with Charalambidis the first man denied when his close-range effort rebounded off the upright and Niki Zimling's 25-yard effort for Denmark then suffering the same fate. Cyprus duo Jason Demetriou and Georgios Efrem went close from distance before two long-range free-kicks from Eriksen drew good saves from Georgallides. Bendtner almost added a fifth for Denmark in injury time, but Georgallides saved his six-yard effort.