Slovakia rallies to beat Denmark 3-1 in soccer friendly

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Played at the TRE-FOR Park stadium on Wednesday night, the game was seen as a warm-up for both teams ahead of qualification matches for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Danish striker Tobias Mikkelsen put the hosts into the lead in the 22nd minute, when a long cross from midfield found him alone on the edge of the Slovak box. He easily slotted the ball into the net, thereby¹ scoring his first ever goal for the Danish national team.

The rest of the first half saw the Danes dominate possession and make several attempts on goal, in a game that otherwise lacked tempo², but the score remained 1-0 in favor of Denmark at half time.

Slovakia made a strong comeback in the second half, where they increased their pace and ball possession, and scored three goals in 38 minutes.

Striker Martin Jakubko made tied the score in the 63rd minute, heading a curling Slovak free kick into the Danish net.

A passive Danish defense³ then failed to clear a Slovak corner kick, and allowed midfielder Marek Hamsik to head in a goal from in front of the goal line to put Slovakia ahead 2-1 in the 72nd minute.

Then, a serious lapse⁴ by the Danish midfield saw Slovakia make a counter attack, whereby center back Lubomir Guldan raced to the Danish net to tap in a goal in the 83rd minute, and take the score to 3-1, where it remained at the final whistle.

Wednesday's match was the Danish national team's first outing since it played in the Euro 2012 tournament in Poland and Ukraine, in June, where it failed to proceed from the group stage.

Team coach Morten Olsen used the friendly to try out new tactics as well as players, including four national team debutants, but without much success as the final score showed.

Denmark will play the first of its World Cup qualification matches against the Czech Republic on Sept. 8, while Slovakia play Lithuania on Sept. 7.

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