Eriksen scores as sub against Netherlands

Christian Eriksen scored moments after entering as a substitute for Denmark against the Netherlands on Saturday to make a dream return in his first international match since his cardiac arrest during the European Championship in June.

The Netherlands won the wide-open match 4-2 but the result of the friendly seemed almost irrelevant to the crowd at the stadium where Eriksen first rose to prominence for Ajax, and welcomed him back.

Eriksen, fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, got a pat on the back from coach Kasper Hjulmand, a handshake from Memphis Depay ,anda standing ovation from much of the Johan Cruyff Arena as he trotted onto the pitch to make his return to international competition at the start of the second half.

Just over two minutes later he got on the score sheet, firing home a powerful shot to cut the Dutch lead to 3-2 after a thrilling first half.

The Dutch dominated before the break with goals from Steven Bergwijn, Nathan Ake and Depay.

Jannik Vestergaard’s 19thminute header kept the Danes in touch.

Eriksen’s low shot to cut the lead was his 37th international goal, matching Denmark great Michael Laudrup.

Bergwijn scored his second of the night after a powerful run out of midfield by Frenkie de Jong.

The winger collected De Jong’s pass, cut inside from the left and curled a shot over Kasper Schmeichel.

Still, Eriksen wasn’t done. He fired a long-range shot in the 74th that beat goalkeeper Mark Flekken, but slammed into the post.

At fulltime he got a big hug from Netherlands defender Daley Blind, a former Ajax teammate who also has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Eriksen then walked alone to one corner of the ground to soak up plaudits from the Danish section of fans as his teammates also applauded.

Trivia question

What was the first U.S. Team to win the Stanley Cup?

They said it

• From Mike Bianchi of the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel, on Phil Mickelson not playing in the Masters for the first time in 28 years: “When you get canceled by Augusta National, the most un-woke organization in all of sports, you’ve really stepped in deep doo-doo.”

• From Bills GM Brandon Beane, to the Pat Mcafee Show, when Mcafee told him he could trade QB Josh Allen to the Colts for whatever he wanted: “I would trade myself before I traded Josh.”

• From Bob Molinaro in the Norfolk Virginian-pilot, on new Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett: “Sounds like he could be carrying a musket behind George Washington in the Revolutionary War.”

• From Saint Peter’s basketball coach Shaheen Holloway , to reporters, on being an NCAA tournament underdog: “I’ve got guys from New Jersey and New York City. You think we’re scared of anything?”

Trivia answer

The Seattle Metropolitans of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association defeated the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey Association 3 games to 1 by a combined score of 23-11. The Metropolitans lost the first game 8-4.