Denmark beat Wales 2-0 in Copenhagen in Nations League as Isaksen seals win

Denmark defeated Wales 2-0 in Copenhagen in the Nations League on Sunday, leaving Wales bottom of Group A4 with no points and no goals from their opening two matches.

Wales had lost their Thursday opener to Portugal 1-0 and arrived at Parken with Craig Bellamy making six changes to his side; Bellamy had earlier recalled a personal memory of scoring a winner there as a 19-year-old. Denmark, who had been beaten 3-2 by Norway on Thursday, responded after that setback and were the stronger side for large spells.

Denmark controlled much of the first half, probing a Wales midfield that struggled to contain them and creating early openings. Joachim Andersen’s pass exposed Neco Williams and Gustav Isaksen fired an early effort wide before Isaksen’s cross met Patrick Dorgu’s head which went off target.

The hosts thought they had taken the lead in the 24th minute when Mikkel Damsgaard set up Isaksen to volley, but VAR flagged an offside in the build-up; Damsgaard struck the post seconds later. Dorgu then headed off straight down the tunnel, a potential injury blow for Manchester United, and Wales briefly grew into the game.

Wales carved a first-half chance when Sorba Thomas shot narrowly after an Andersen mistake and Brennan Johnson’s run to the byline produced a cut-back that Connor Roberts forced onto Filip Jörgensen, who tipped the close-range effort away. Charlie Savage’s selection was a surprise inclusion among Bellamy’s six changes, Savage having earned two previous caps against Gibraltar.

The deadlock was broken in the 53rd minute from a set-piece when Damsgaard delivered a free-kick that ultimately went in off Ben Davies for an own goal, despite Rasmus Højlund wheeling away in celebration after the final touch. Gustav Isaksen made the score 2-0 in the 66th minute when Kieffer Moore cleared off the line but Isaksen reacted quickest to the loose ball and his deflected effort struck the underside of the bar and crossed the line.

Mohamed Daramy missed a presentable opportunity to increase Denmark’s margin and both sides had late efforts ruled out, including a Neco Williams header disallowed for a push by Ethan Ampadu; the hosts, according to the match report, arguably should have won by a larger margin.

Wales now face Norway in Oslo on Thursday, a match that comes before their return fixture against Denmark in Cardiff.