SAMARA: Captain Mile Jedinak rode to Australia’s World Cup rescue with a penalty to cancel out Christian Eriksen’s superb opener for Denmark, securing a 1-1 draw on Thursday that ensured Group ‘C’ would go down to the wire.

Eriksen’s seventh-minute opener was fully deserved by the fast-starting Danes and the quality of his half-volley finish was excellent in a tournament that has produced some wonderful goals.

Jedinak, however, got Australia back into the game with his second penalty in Russia, awarded following the intervention of the VAR, and the draw kept the Socceroos alive in the tournament.

Denmark moved on to four points and need at least a draw against France in their final game to guarantee a last-16 spot, while Australia, with one point, must win their last match against Peru to stand any chance of going through.

After their opening defeat by France, Australia coach Bert van Marwijk resisted the temptation to draft in attacking reinforcements, leaving veteran forward Tim Cahill on the bench for the second match in a row.

It looked a bad decision in the early stages as Australia laboured up front and the Danes tore into their opponents at a furious pace.

Aaron Mooy’s poor clearance was immediately returned into the area. Nicolai Jorgensen controlled and cleverly flicked the ball inside to Eriksen, who ghosted into space and lashed a sweet half-volley on the rise which flew high into the net.

It was Eriksen’s 13th goal in his last 15 appearances for his country and underlined the pivotal importance of the Tottenham Hotspur playmaker to the otherwise workmanlike Danes.

They should have doubled their advantage when Jorgensen flashed a header wide at the near post as Australia looked ragged at the back and toothless up front.

Yet just as in their opening game, Australia were handed a route back into the match from the penalty spot, thanks to the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee.

Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz had failed to spot that Mathew Leckie’s header had struck the arm of Yussuf Poulsen, but after being alerted to the incident by the VAR, he pointed to the spot.

Danish keeper Kasper Schmeichel had not conceded for 571 minutes, but Jedinak calmly rolled home his penalty in the 38th minute to level the scores.

Having clawed their way back into the game, Australia seemed imbued with a renewed sense of belief, surging forward in numbers whenever they could and roared on by the vast array of green and gold clad fans in the Samara Arena.

They could not turn that impetus, however, into clear chances.

After Denmark’s Pione Sisto put a good opportunity wide, Australia gradually got on top, but the nearest they came to a winner was when Leckie’s cross was turned over his own goal by Henrik Dalsgaard and Mooy blasted over from distance.

Second-half substitute Daniel Arzani brought an additional spark to the Australia attack and had a good shot parried by Schmeichel at the death while Leckie tested the Danish keeper with a hooked effort.

A disappointed coach van Marwijk said Australia have to find ‘the last part of the puzzle’ if they are to stay in the tournament. The Dutchman praised a team that has ‘improved every day’ but bemoaned a lack of clinical finishing after his team missed chances to win the game in the second half.

“We had chances to win and we deserved to win, so I’m disappointed,” the Dutchman said. “I fully agree we should have won. Against France we also deserved more, I think.

“We have one point and we deserve four points from these two games.

“The last part of the puzzle is that we must make the difference by scoring one goal more than the opponent.

“I must be satisfied about all the things we asked of [my players]. From the first day the team has improved every day and they surprised me today again.” Australia must beat Peru on Tuesday to have any chance of going further.

In a blow to their hopes, striker Andrew Nabbout looks set to be sidelined for the rest of the World Cup after he injured a shoulder falling awkwardly.

“I think the tournament is over for him,” van Marwijk said.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2018