Denmark are through to the Women’s World Cup knockout stages for the first time since 1995 after beating Haiti 2-0 in their final Group D match in Perth.
The Danes’ captain and record scorer Pernille Harder put them ahead with a 21st-minute penalty and substitute Sanne Troelsgaard added a finish in the 10th minute of stoppage time as Lars Sondergaard’s side advanced as group runners-up behind England.
Competition debutants Haiti exit with this result following 1-0 losses to England and China, both of which also saw them concede a penalty.
Denmark – who had three efforts disallowed – will now travel to Sydney to face tournament co-hosts Australia in the last 16 on Monday.
Denmark thought they had the lead in the third minute when Kerly Theus parried Amalie Vangsgaard’s strike and Simone Boye sidefooted in on the follow-up, but the effort was ruled out for offside following a VAR check.
The Danes then did go in front when Haiti had another spot-kick given against them, for handball after Vangsgaard struck the ball against Dayana Pierre-Louis, which was coolly dispatched by Harder.
Eight minutes later Haiti had a chance as their skipper Nerilia Mondesir’s shot was saved by Lene Christensen.
Harder then had a strike dealt with by Theus, before putting the ball in the net with a finish in first-half stoppage time, only to see the flag up for offside.
After Roselord Borgella’s shot defected wide and Batcheba Louis’ header was caught by Christensen as Haiti pushed for a first World Cup goal in the second half, Harder had another effort disallowed in the 83rd minute.
Theus came out of her box to challenge Signe Bruun and stayed down, the ball was crossed by Mille Gejl to Harder and she headed into the empty net, but VAR intervened, and after referee Oh Hyeon-jeong watched the incident back pitchside, it was ruled as no goal due to a foul.
Theus then did well to deny Gejl in stoppage time, before fellow substitute Troelsgaard slotted past the goalkeeper as Denmark extended their campaign and Haiti’s came to an end.
