Haiti 0-2 Denmark: Pernille Harder scores penalty as Danes book Women's World Cup last-16 spot

Match report from the Women's World Cup Group D match between Haiti and Denmark at Perth Rectangular Stadium as goals from Pernille Harder and Sanne Troelsgaard helped Lars Sondergaard's Danes into the last 16

Tuesday 1 August 2023 16:00, UK

Denmark captain Pernille Harder converted a first-half penalty to register her maiden Women's World Cup goal, setting up a 2-0 victory over Haiti on Tuesday and a spot for her side in the last 16.

The result ends a long drought for the Danes, who last advanced to the knockout stage in 1995. After defeating China 6-1, England topped Group D and face Nigeria in Brisbane on Monday, while runners-up Denmark meet Australia in Sydney.

Denmark started with a bang and remained undeterred after a third-minute goal by defender Simone Boye was ruled offside by VAR.

Haiti midfielder Dayana Pierre-Louis conceded a penalty for handball in the 21st minute which gave Harder her moment, coolly slotting the ball in the bottom-left corner from the spot.

The Bayern Munich player could have had two more, with a 45th-minute effort ruled offside and an 83rd-minute header disallowed after forward Signe Bruun was found to have fouled the diminutive Caribbean goalkeeper Kerly Theus outside the box.

Haiti, ranked 55th in the world, showed great spirit in search of an equaliser, dominating periods after the break, but ultimately the experience of the 18th-ranked Danes shone through and substitute Sanne Troelsgaard sealed the result in stoppage time.

What's next?

Haiti end their first World Cup campaign winless from three games, while Denmark advance to the last 16 stage of the Women's World Cup, where they will face co-hosts Australia in Sydney on Monday August 7 at 11am.

What is the schedule?

The group stage runs over a two-week period, finishing on August 3. Group winners and runners-up progress to the round of 16, which takes place from August 5 to August 8.

The quarter-finals, which will be held in Wellington, Auckland, Brisbane and Sydney, are scheduled for August 11 and 12.

The first semi-final will then be played on August 15 in Auckland, with the other semi-final taking place on August 16 at the Accor Stadium in Sydney, which will then host the final on August 20.

A third-place play-off will be played the day before the final on August 19 in Brisbane.