Dennis Rommedahl scored two and made a third as Denmark beat Cyprus 4-1 in a Group H qualifier on Friday to edge closer to a place at the 2012 European Championship.
Denmark opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Cyprus lost possession in defense and Rommedahl lined up Lars Jacobsen to score. Four minutes later, Rommedahl collected a pass from Christian Eriksen and rifled home Denmark's second.
Michael Krohn-Dehli volleyed past Cyprus keeper Antonis Giorgallides in the 20th minute, and Rommedahl added the Danes' fourth just two minutes later.
Denmark promptly lost pace and concentration, allowing Andreas Avraam to score a consolation goal for Cyprus in first-half stoppage time after Jacobsen lost the ball.
''I think we started to lean back a bit after 4-0,'' Eriksen admitted.
''I am happy. We scored four goals in 20 minutes ... that was classy,'' Denmark coach Morten Olsen said. ''We're satisfied.''
The Cypriots started the second half well and Michalis Konstantinou, Jason Dimitriou and George Efrem all had chances, while Denmark midfielder William Kvist had a strike ruled out for offside.
The Danes continued to break through a weak Cypriot defense with Nicklas Bendtner and Eriksen.
A shot by substitute Dimitris Christofi in the 70th minute went over the Danish nets, and Giorgallides saved a ball by Bendtner in overtime.
Denmark plays Portugal to decide the group winner on Tuesday in Copenhagen.
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Cyprus: Antonis Giorgallides, Georgos Merkis, Georgios Pelagia, Constantinos Charalambides, Michalis Konstantinou (62, Dimitris Christofi), Sinisa Dobrasinovic, Nektarios Alexandrou, Andreas Avraam, Savvas Poursaitides (46, Athos Solomou), Jason Demetriou, George Efrem.
Denmark: Thomas Sorensen, Niki Zimling (68, Martin Jorgensen), Simon Kjaer, Andreas Bjelland, Simon Busk Poulsen, Lars Jacobsen (82, Michael Silberbauer), William Kvist, Christian Eriksen, Michael Krohn-Dehli, Dennis Rommedahl (71, Christian Poulsen) Nicklas Bendtner.
