World Cup PIX: Cueva misses penalty, Peru-Denmark scoreless at break

IMAGES from the FIFA World Cup Group C clash between Peru and Denmark at Mordovia Arena, in Saransk on Saturday

IMAGE: Denmark's Yussuf Poulsen celebrates with teammate Henrik Dalsgaard after scoring their first goal against Peru on Saturday. Photograph: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters

Yussuf Poulsen bounced back from conceding a penalty to score the goal that gave Denmark a hard-fought 1-0 win in their World Cup Group C clash against a Peru side who were left to rue Christian Cueva's costly spot-kick miss in the first half.

Peru started the brighter of the two sides, keeping Danish danger man Christian Eriksen under wraps for much of the first half, and they should have gone ahead just before the break when Cueva was tripped in the box by Poulsen.

IMAGE: Denmark's Kasper Schmeichel reacts after Peru's Christian Cueva misses a penalty kick. Photograph: Marcos Brindicci/Reuters

Referee Bakary Gassama consulted with the VAR (video assistant referee) system before awarding the penalty but Cueva, whose nickname is "Aladdin", sent the spot kick on a magic carpet ride high over the bar.

Poulsen punished that miss in the 59th minute as Eriksen sucked in two defenders before playing him in to score what turned out to be the only goal of a pulsating, high-tempo match, despite Peru going close on several occasions late on.

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

World Cup PIX: Poulsen goal powers Denmark to 1-0 win over Peru

Recommended by Rediff.com