Euro 2008

Qualifying group F

Spain 2 - Denmark 1

Spain: Casillas; Angel, Javi Navarro, Marchena, Capdevila; Iniesta, Albelda, Xavi (Xabi Alonso 60'), David Silva; David Villa (Angulo 76'), Morientes (Fernando Torres 64'). 4-4-2.
Denmark: Sorensen; Jacobsen, Agger, Gravgaard, Niclas Jensen; Poulsen; Rommedahl, Jorgensen (Andreasen 35', Bendtner 74'), Daniel Jensen, Kahlenberg (Gronkjaer 60'); Tomasson. 4-1-4-1.

Goals:
1-0. 34. Morientes. Picked up Iniesta pass and rounded Agger to score.
2-0. 45. David Villa. Collected long pass and ran on to shoot past Sorensen.
2-1. 50. Gravgaard. Got above defence to head long throw down past Casillas.

Spain clocked up an important 2-1 victory over Denmark in Madrid tonight to keep on track for a place in next year's European finals. With only three points from their first three games, nothing but a win would do for Luis Aragonés's side. However injuries and suspensions to key players meant he had to put out an untried back four, with Marchena returning to the line up after a long absence.

Both sides tested the waters without too much success in the early minutes, but with twenty minutes on the clock the Danes were left with ten men when Niclas Jensen picked up his second booking of the match. And a quarter of an hour later Morientes took advantage to run on to Iniesta's through ball, turn Agger and roll a shot under Sorensen.It was the striker's 27th goal with "la selección", taking him ahead of Butragueño in the rankings.

Xavi brought a good save out of Sorensen soon afterwards, and with the first half coming to a close David Villa put his side two up after picking up David Silva's pass, leaving Gravaard for dead and shooting wide of the keeper.

The game appeared to be over, but immediately after the restart Daniel Jensen rattled the foot of the post with a long shot, and a couple of minutes later Gravgaard got above the defence to head Agger's long throw down past Casillas.

Villa was pulled up for a dubious offside soon afterwards, but otherwise there were some nervous moments as the ten men pushed for an equaliser, with Marchena in particular saving the day with a precise tackle on Tomasson as he advanced on goal late on. Spain had the three points they wanted though, and now it's on to Mallorca for Wednesday's game against Iceland.