August 01, (THEWILL) – Denmark’s captain, Pernille Harder, scored her first Women’s World Cup goal with a first-half penalty, leading her team to a 2-0 victory over Haiti on Tuesday, and securing a spot in the last 16.
This win ends a long drought for the Danes, who last made it to the knockout stage in 1995. Following a 6-1 victory against China, England topped Group D and will face Nigeria in Brisbane on Monday, while Denmark, finishing as runners-up, will meet Australia in Sydney.
Denmark started strongly, but a third-minute goal by defender Simone Boye was ruled offside after a VAR review. Haiti’s midfielder, Dayana Pierre-Louis, conceded a penalty for handball in the 21st minute, providing Harder with the opportunity to calmly slot the ball into the bottom-left corner from the spot.
The Bayern Munich player had two more potential goals denied, with an effort in the 45th minute ruled offside, and an 83rd-minute header disallowed due to a foul by forward Signe Bruun on the Caribbean goalkeeper, Kerly Theus, outside the box. Haiti made spirited efforts to find an equaliser but they were unable to break through Denmark’s defence, and substitute Sanne Troelsgaard sealed the result with a late goal in stoppage time.
Haiti’s first-ever World Cup appearance concludes at the group stage as they finish their debut campaign without a win from three Group D games.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
