Nicklas Bendtner inspired Denmark to a 2-0 victory over Scandinavian rivals Norway to leave UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group H fascinatingly poised. The striker, loaned from Arsenal to Sunderland ahead of last week's transfer deadline, scored twice in the first half, the second a superb long-range effort.
The win brings Denmark level on points with group leaders Portugal and tonight's opponents, though Norway have just one game remaining compared to their rivals' two.
Denmark enjoyed the early pressure and full-back Lars Jacobsen was an unlikely candidate to open the scoring, only for Rune Almenning Jarstein to save with his feet. Michael Krohn-Dehli headed the resulting corner wide.
Mohammed Abdellaoue missed Norway's first chance of note, shooting tamely straight at Thomas Sorensen after going past Simon Kjaer.
The breakthrough came in the 24th minute, though, when good movement allowed Bendtner to turn home Dennis Rommedahl's low cross. Christian Eriksen dragged a poor 20-yard effort wide, but Bendtner showed his team-mate the way two minutes before the interval.
The 23-year-old, who had been been hauled down in the area by Kjetil Waehlaer, let fly from 25 yards and found the bottom corner of the net.
Almenning Jarstein then made an excellent save from Eriksen, but then pushed Niki Zimling's low drive straight to Daniel Agger, who blazed over. Christian Grindheim shot wildly over at the other end before Bendtner's delicate pass just eluded Jacobsen.
Vadim Demidov went unpunished when he tugged back Bendtner as he tried to meet Eriksen's free-kick, and Agger lashed a trademark piledriver over the bar after Eriksen rolled a free-kick square to him, but there was no change to the scoreline as Denmark held on comfortably.
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