Danes and Portugal claim wins

Swedish hopes suffer a setback as Alves sees off Albania

Last updated: 6th June 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Danes and Portugal claim wins

Kahlenberg: Celebrates winner

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Denmark took control of Group 1 by beating rivals Sweden as Portugal left it late to overcome Albania away from home.

Morten Olsen's Denmark moved three points clear of second-placed Hungary after a battling 1-0 win over struggling Sweden.

The hosts wasted a golden chance to take the lead after just 12 minutes when Kim Kallstrom's poor penalty was saved by Denmark keeper Thomas Sorensen.

The Danes took full advantage of the miss to score the only goal on 22 minutes when Thomas Kahlenberg seized on a mistake from Mikael Nilsson to fire past Andreas Isaksson.

Former Charlton Athletic winger Dennis Rommedahl should have doubled the lead on the half-hour mark, but he missed an open goal.

Sweden are now 10 points behind Denmark, while Portugal are seven points behind the leaders after a last-gasp 2-1 win in Albania.

Portugal have endured a frustrating qualifying campaign to date, but took the lead on 28 minutes when Hugo Almeida headed home Jose Bosingwa's cross.

However, Albania were back on level terms within a minute when Erjon Bogdani nodded home a cross from Ervin Skela.

With the final whistle approaching, Portugal snatched all three points in the third minute of stoppage-time when Bruno Alves rose to head home.