Denmark 2-1 England

It was agony for England as two goals in the final ten minutes from Denmark turned a 1-0 lead into a 2-1 defeat.

With Sweden drawing with Finland in the day's other game, it means that England need at least a draw to reach the Women’s Euro 2005 Semi-Finals in their final group match, against the Swedes back at Ewood Park on Saturday.

After the record-breaking attendance for the 3-2 win against Finland, the Three Lions once again had a large crowd cheering them all the way on Wednesday evening and victory was within sight as play moved into the closing stages. Hope Powell’s team had the lead thanks to a 53rd minute penalty by Everton midfielder Fara Williams.

But an 80th minute free-kick by striker Merete Pedersen levelled the scores, then two minutes from time midfielder Cathrine Sorensen headed the winner.

It was a dreadful way for the evening to end for England, who had controlled play for the opening hour and had chances to extend their lead. And Danish coach Peter Bonde admitted: “England were the better team today and we were lucky.”

In order to get the required point against Sweden, England will have to not only play as well as they did in their best spells against the Danes but also convert the chances they create - and they certainly created several at Ewood Park.

Though goalkeeper Jo Fletcher had to save a 22nd minute Pedersen header, most of the action was coming at the other end and in the 35th minute an excellent Rachel Yankey cross was glanced wide of the far post by striker Amanda Barr.

Kelly Smith struck a 25 yard effort past the near post three minutes before the interval then, as the first half ran towards stoppage time, Yankey drilled a narrow-angled shot just wide of the upright after good work by Smith and winger Karen Carney.

The breakthrough finally arrived eight minutes after the break, Williams neatly tucking her spot kick home after a foul on Yankey.

The Everton midfielder almost doubled her tally two minutes later, driving in a 12 yard shot that was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Tine Cederkvist.

England should have wrapped up victory in the 71st minute, but skipper Faye White somehow turned a two-yard shot over the bar from Yankey’s curling cross.

That miss proved costly when, nine minutes later, the Danes equalised through an expertly taken Pedersen free-kick after a foul had contentiously been awarded for a challenge by Williams.

That put a whole new complexion on Group A and things got even worse for England 8 minutes later. Nanna Johansen’s fired in a whipping in-swinging cross from the right where Sorensen nipped in between the defenders at the far post to meet with a powerful downward header, which gave Fletcher no chance.

But with the table neatly poised going into the final round of matches, a point on Saturday would see them through to the last four.

Denmark: Tine Cederkvist; Mariann Knudsen, Gitte Andersen, Katrine Pedersen, Bettina Falk; Ann Dot Eggers Nielsen (Tanja Christensen 71), Cathrinen Paaske Sorensen, Louise Hansen, Johanna Rasmussen, Merete Pedersen, Nanna Molbach Johansen (Lene Jensen 58)
Subs not used: Stine Kjaer Jensen, Dorte Dalum Jensen, Cecillie Pdersen, Mette Bjerg, Mie Olsen, Helle Nielsen, Stina Lykke Petersen.

Goals: M. Pedersen 80, Paaske Sørensen 88

England: Jo Fletcher - Birmingham City, Alex Scott - Birmingham City, Faye White - Arsenal, Mary Phillip - Arsenal, Rachel Unitt - Everton, Katie Chapman - Charlton Athletic, Kelly Smith - Arsenal (Vicky Exley - Doncaster Rovers Belles, 46), Fara Williams - Everton, Karen Carney - Birmingham City, Amanda Barr - Birmingham City (Eniola Aluko - Charlton Athletic, 65, Rachel Yankey - Birmingham City.
Subs not used: Jody Handley - Everton, Emily Westwood - Wolves, Rachel Brown - Everton, Casey Stoney - Charlton Athletic, Anita Asante - Arsenal, Lindsay Johnson - Everton, Leanne Hall - Fulham.

Goals: Williams 52 (pen)

Referee: Alexandra Ihringova (SVK)
Assistant referees: Irina Mirt (ROM) and Yolanda Parga Rodriguez (ESP)
Fourth official: Nicole Petignat (SUI)

Attendance: 14,695