World Cup 2022: Australia 1-0 Denmark - Mathew Leckie sends Socceroos to knockouts for first time since 2006

Australia reached the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time in 16 years after shocking Denmark.

The Danes, needing victory to progress, dominated possession but were caught out on the break when Australia scored the winner on the hour mark.

Denmark lost the ball in the Australian box and Mathew Leckie finished a brilliant counter attack with a low shot past Kasper Schmeichel.

Australia finish in second place in Group D on six points, only behind world champions France on goal difference.

Denmark meanwhile exit Qatar 2022 in disappointing fashion, with just one point from three games, sitting bottom of the group.

Australia will now play the winners of Group C - with Poland, Argentina and Saudi Arabia all in with a chance of topping the table - on Saturday (19:00 GMT).

Dark horses bolt as Denmark exit

Denmark came into the World Cup tipped by many fans and pundits as 'dark horses' after their impressive run to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 and a strong Uefa Nations League campaign in which they beat France home and away.

However, they failed to impress in Qatar and go home having scored only once in three Group D games.

Their attacking struggles were acknowledged by manager Kasper Hjulmand who made three changes from the defeat to France, all in attacking positions.

Martin Braithwaite, Brentford midfielder Mathias Jensen and Andreas Skov Olsen came in as Mikkel Damsgaard, Victor Nelsson and striker Andreas Cornelius dropped to the bench - but the changes made little difference.

The Danes' best chance came through Jensen in the first half, who forced Australia captain Mat Ryan into an impressive acrobatic save after being played through by a Braithwaite flick.

However, it was telling that Denmark's most threatening attacking outlet was left-back Joakim Maehle, who tested Australia with his probing runs but was not adequately supported by those further forward.

They demanded a penalty in the second half when Kasper Dolberg was hauled down in the area, however he was narrowly offside as the Danish campaign petered out.

Denmark continue their longest winless World Cup run, having failed to earn a victory in any of their past six games in the competition, with four of them draws.

Solid Aussies show spirit of 2006

Australia, the lowest seeded side in Group D, ran the game at their tempo and the largely uneventful encounter suited their needs perfectly, with a draw potentially enough to see them through having started the day second in the group on three points.

However just as the news of Tunisia taking a shock lead against France filtered through, which would have eliminated them on goal difference had they drawn here, Leckie sprang into action.

Dolberg lost the ball in the Australian box and his side was caught out on the break. Melbourne City winger Leckie ran confidently at the Danish defence, and struck left footed through Maehle's legs past Schmeichel inside the far post.

It ensured they reach the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time since 2006, when a star-studded side featuring Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill and Mark Schwarzer were only stopped by eventual champions Italy.

This team features far fewer big names but marshalled by captain and former Brighton and Arsenal goalkeeper Ryan, they have recovered from a 4-1 loss to France in their opening game - where they were naively open and picked apart by Kylian Mbappe and co - to grind out the results required.

It was Ryan who guided Australia through the nervy final six minutes of added time, claiming corners with aplomb.

A Cornelius header looped onto the roof of the net in stoppage time but a historic victory was secured.

Player of the match

SouttarHarry Souttar

Australia

Squad number19Player nameSouttar

Squad number7Player nameLeckie

Squad number13Player nameMooy

Squad number4Player nameRowles

Squad number26Player nameBaccus

Squad number16Player nameBehich

Squad number8Player nameWright

Squad number15Player nameDuke

Squad number14Player nameMcGree

Squad number22Player nameIrvine

Squad number2Player nameDegenek

Squad number1Player nameRyan

Squad number10Player nameHrustic

Squad number9Player nameMaclaren

Squad number23Player nameGoodwin

Denmark

Squad number10Player nameEriksen

Squad number13Player nameKristensen

Squad number23Player nameHøjbjerg

Squad number1Player nameSchmeichel

Squad number2Player nameAndersen

Squad number6Player nameChristensen

Squad number7Player nameJensen

Squad number5Player nameMaehle

Squad number11Player nameSkov Olsen

Squad number25Player nameLindstrøm

Squad number12Player nameDolberg

Squad number24Player nameSkov

Squad number14Player nameDamsgaard

Squad number9Player nameBraithwaite

Squad number26Player nameBah

Squad number21Player nameCornelius

Line-ups

Australia

Formation 4-4-2

1Ryan

2Degenek19Souttar4Rowles16Behich

7Leckie13Mooy22Irvine23Goodwin

14McGree15Duke

Substitutes

Denmark

Formation 4-3-3

1Schmeichel

13Kristensen2Andersen6Christensen5Maehle

7Jensen23Højbjerg10Eriksen

11Skov Olsen9Braithwaite25Lindstrøm

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Australia 1, Denmark 0.

Second Half ends, Australia 1, Denmark 0.

Attempt missed. Andreas Cornelius (Denmark) header from a difficult angle on the right is just a bit too high. Assisted by Christian Eriksen with a cross following a corner.

Corner, Denmark. Conceded by Mathew Ryan.

Corner, Denmark. Conceded by Milos Degenek.

Foul by Mikkel Damsgaard (Denmark).

Milos Degenek (Australia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution, Australia. Ajdin Hrustic replaces Mathew Leckie.

Attempt missed. Alexander Bah (Denmark) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right.

Attempt blocked. Keanu Baccus (Australia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Harry Souttar with a headed pass.

Joachim Andersen (Denmark) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Jamie Maclaren (Australia).

Substitution, Australia. Jamie Maclaren replaces Mitchell Duke.

Attempt blocked. Jesper Lindstrøm (Denmark) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Andreas Cornelius.

Attempt saved. Kasper Dolberg (Denmark) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

Attempt blocked. Alexander Bah (Denmark) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Andreas Cornelius.

Robert Skov (Denmark) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Robert Skov (Denmark).

Keanu Baccus (Australia) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Offside, Australia. Kye Rowles tries a through ball, but Mitchell Duke is caught offside.

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