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World Cup qualifying: Denmark hold Turkey 2-2 to put Ukraine through [Mon Sep 5th, 2005]
Istanbul (Reuters) - Substitute Soren Larsen scored an injury-time equaliser to earn Denmark a 2-2 draw in Turkey and send Ukraine into the 2006 World Cup as winners of Group Two.
Claus Jensen had fired Denmark ahead in the 41st minute, only for Turkish substitute Okan Buruk to bring Turkey level at the start of the second half.
Tumer Metin then scored with an 81st-minute free kick to send the Turkish fans wild, as a win would have kept them in with a chance of winning the group.
However, Larsen's close-range shot meant that Ukraine, who drew 1-1 in Georgia earlier, have an unassailable lead on 24 points.
Turkey, on 17 points, and Denmark, on 13, will now battle it out with Greece, on 15, for second place.
"Unfortunately we could not hold on for the last two minutes and now we have to beat Ukraine and Albania to continue on our path," Turkish coach Fatih Terim told reporters. "But I am generally satisfied with the performance of our players. I am only sad that we let that goal in at the end."
Danish coach Morten Olsen praised his team for their last-gasp comeback.
"I think both teams had their chances but when they (the Turks) got the second goal we had only one solution, and that was power play," he said.
"I thought we had many good players who had a good day today ... I think we have seen a very good football game."
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