Eriksen pulls strings as Poulsen punishes Peru for penalty miss
ONE moment was all Christian Eriksen needed. Peripheral for much of the contest, unable to set the tempo like usual, he brought calm at the crucial point.
It was Eriksen’s delicious pass that set up the only goal of this game and won Denmark three points they were rather fortunate to collect.
The fact Kasper Schmeichel delivered one of his best matches in a Danish shirt tells you why a thoroughly vibrant Peru deserved to end their first World Cup game in 36 years as victors.
Schmeichel made six saves, some of excellent quality, to extend an unbeaten record for his country to 534 minutes. He was not required when Peru were awarded a first-half penalty via VAR though. Christian Cueva skied the ball from the spot and his tears at the final whistle spoke of the deep feelings only this kind of stage can stir.
Not since 1982 had Peru been at a World Cup and that absence seemed to feed an energy they took into the game. Schmeichel, the Leicester goalkeeper, summoned a fine save early on when Watford winger Andre Carrillo struck a firm low shot at the end of a fluid attack.
Then, on the stroke of half-time, the video assistant referee proved influential for the second time in Group C. The system that gave France a penalty earlier in the day did the same for Peru. Initially Gambian referee Bakary Gassama allowed play to continue when Cueva fell having checked back inside Yussuf Poulsen. But called to study the replay, Gassama saw the trip to Cueva’s back boot and pointed to the spot.
Yet the pressure got to Cueva, who went on a long run-up, paused for a shuffle, then sent the ball well over the bar.
His miss was made to count in the 59th minute when Denmark played Peru at their own game. The masters of counter-attack were unpicked on the break as Pione Sisto fed Eriksen, who strode forward and slipped the perfect pass to Poulsen (left). Played onside by Miguel Trauco, Poulsen took one touch with his right and finished with his left. It was the 17th goal that Eriksen had contributed in his last 14 internationals.
Two minutes later Peru nearly levelled. Edison Flores found space on the left and hit the ball with power but Schmeichel was excellent again in diving to beat clear with his forearm.
Peru sent on talisman Paolo Guerrero and the chances kept coming. Guerrero drew a save from Schmeichel with a header and then saw the ball slip just wide from a clever backheel.
As Peru pushed on, Eriksen had a great chance to seal it but his finish was saved. It didn’t matter, Tottenham’s maestro had already struck the meaningful note.