Euro U21: Kownacki scores but Andersen’s Denmark get vital win

Joachim Andersen’s Denmark took advantage of Poland’s draw with the Faroe Islands to leapfrog Dawid Kownacki’s men and move to the top of Group 3 of European Under-21 Championship qualifying on Friday.

The Danes beat Finland 2-0 at Portland Park in Aalborg, with the result leaving them on 16 points for the campaign. Andersen played the full 90 minutes, producing an assured performance to build on his good form with Sampdoria so far this season, as Duelund (25) and Olsen (94) provided the goals. Denmark take on Lithuania on Tuesday 11 September.

There was an unexpected slip-up for Kownacki’s Poland, meanwhile, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by the Faroe Islands at the Stadion Zaglebia in Lubin. Thomsend put the visitors in front on 16 minutes, with the Poles needing a 72nd-minute Kownacki penalty to salvage a draw. The draw – which saw Kownacki play the full 90 minutes as captain – means Poland slip down to second place in the group, ahead of their trip to Rovaniemi to take on Finland on Tuesday 11 September.