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Danish double Tomasson scores twice, sinks UruguayPosted: Saturday June 01, 2002 4:43 AMUpdated: Saturday June 01, 2002 3:14 PM
ULSAN, South Korea (AP) -- Jon Dahl Tomasson struck two goals to give Denmark a 2-1 win over Uruguay in World Cup Group A on Saturday. Tomasson clipped home a shot from eight meters (yards) off Jesper Gronkjaer's pass in the 45th minute and grabbed the winner seven minutes from time, heading a Martin Jorgensen cross off the underside of the bar. Dario Rodriguez had equalized for Uruguay in the 47th minute when he scored what will go down as one of the classiest goals of the World Cup, striking in a sweet left-footed volley that curled away from leaping Danish 'keeper Thomas Sorensen and sailed in above his outstretched right arm. "After 25 minutes, we good a good grip on the game," said Denmark coach Morten Olsen. "Everybody knows the first game is very important in a World Cup for your confidence, and I think we deserved to win it. Physically, we were the better team." The result leaves Denmark tied alongside Senegal at the top of Group A with three points. France, who lost 1-0 to Senegal Friday, and Uruguay have 0 points. Denmark plays Senegal Thursday and Uruguay meet France the same day.
"France is still the favorite for me. I think they will be very difficult to play against," Olsen said. Both sides played some creative soccer in the first half, but it was the Danes who had the best chances. Denmark went close to scoring in the seventh minute when Dennis Rommedahl whipped in a cross from the right flank that Ebbe Sand headed onto the top of the crossbar. Alvaro Recoba created Uruguay's best first half chance, curling an early free kick just wide of the left post. The second half was tight with both sides searching out a winner. But it was the Danes who finally grabbed it, Jorgensen breaking free on the left flank and whipping in a ball that AC Milan-bound Tomasson headed home. "We played a good match but the Danish cashed in when they needed to. We'll fight in the remaining games," Uruguay coach Victor Pua said. (Full story on Uruguay reaction.) The two sides last met in 1986 when Denmark, led by Olsen, thrashed the two time world champion 6-1. Lineups:URUGUAY: 1-Fabian Carini, 2-Gustavo Mendez, 4-Paolo Montero (C), 5-Pablo Garcia, 6-Dario Rodriguez (Federico Magallanes, 87), 7-Gianni Guigou, 8-Gustavo Varela, 9-Dario Silva, 13-Sebastian Abreu (18-Richard Morales, 88) 14-Gonzalo Sorondo, 20-Alvaro Recoba (17-Mario Regueiro, 78). DENMARK: 1-Thomas Sorensen, 2-Stig Toefting, 3-Rene Henriksen, 4-Martin Laursen, 5-Jan Heintze (C), (12-Nicolas Jensen, 47), 6-Thomas Helveg, 7-Thomas Gravesen, 8-Jesper Gronkjaer (Martin Jorgesen, 69) 9-Jon Dahl Tomasson, 11-Ebbe Sand (17-Christian Poulsen, 88) 19-Dennis Rommedahl. Referee: Saad Mane (Kuwait).
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