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Super Wade inspires win

Midfield dynamo Meshach Wade inspired Bermuda to a slaying of Denmark's giants in the second meeting of the countries at a windswept BAA Field last night.

Wade was like an engine running at full power as he swept from one end of the field to another, bringing wing backs Andrew Rahman and Stanton Lewis regularly into play and constantly snapping at the heels of the visitors, most of whom towered over him at six-foot three plus.

And although he didn't have a hand in either goal -- Thomas Baelum notching Denmark's second own goal of the week and Keishon Smith squeezing in the other -- his constant prompting unsettled the visitors, who lacked the urgency to add to Sunday's 2-1 victory.

The home side, playing the first half with a strong wind at their backs, gave Denmark an early warning of what to expect as striker Kenny Mills went on an impressive run in the 11th minute.

Mills initially miscontrolled in the centre circle but, finding no Danish midfielder in the mood to challenge for the loose ball, picked it up himself and surged powerfully straight down the middle. It was only when he got within shooting distance of goal that his confidence turned to anxiety and he dragged his effort disappointingly wide.

Wade then threatened the Scandinavians' goal, firing a low, hard free kick from all of 45 yards which, with ten degrees greater accuracy, might have embarrassed the massive figure of Morten Hyldgaard between the posts.

Wade spotted Rahman powering forward to good effect on the right after 20 minutes and the Danish rearguard had to be alert to clear his first time cross for a corner.

And three minutes later the Vasco midfielder almost made the breakthrough after Rahman combined with Mills and the latter's clever flick into Wade's path was intercepted at the last moment by Laursen.

It was all Bermuda as Mills nicked the ball off full back Nokolaj Hust's toe, rounded the goalkeeper on the left edge of the area, but saw his chip into the middle chested to safety by Mikkel Jensen.

However, the goal the hosts deserved eventually came in the 31st minute. This time it was Devarr Boyles who picked up Rahman's run and when the Somerset player crossed low to the edge of the box, Baelum's interception was too strong and he diverted the ball past his advancing goalkeeper.

The lacklustre Danish threw on Kim Masden for Jesper Andersen at half-time but Bermuda, whose determination and confidence on the ball will have pleased technical director Clyde Best, almost went further ahead, the ubiquitous Wade popping up on the right with a lob shot which Hyldgaard did well to divert beyond the far post.

But Keishon Smith finally put a Bermudian name on the scoresheet in the 56th minute, squeezing the ball in at the far post after efforts by Kentoine Jennings and Shannon Burgess had been scraped off the line.

Denmark began to summon a sense of greater urgency and almost reduced the arrears with a freak wind-assisted effort five minutes later, Brian Priske's speculative cross-shot deceiving Timmy Figureido but dropping on to the bottom of the post and clear.

And with the visitors pressing forward more purposefully, raining crosses into Figureido's box, Mills missed another great opportunity on the break after a clever ball from Boyles put him one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

The only sour note for Bermuda was when Kentoine Jennings had to be stretchered off close to the end with what looked like a serious shoulder injury.

Bermuda: T.Figureido, S.Burgess, Kofi Dill, C.Roberts, K.Jennings (D.Binns 88 mins), M.Wade, D.Boyles, A.Rahman, S.Lewis, K.Smith (A.Russell 81 mins), K.Mills (Kaiwon Dill 85 mins).

Denmark: M.Hyldgaard, N.Hust, T.Baelum, M.Laursen (K.Jensen 53 mins), J.Andersen (K.Masden 45 mins), S.Hansen (P.Masden 64 mins), M.Jensen, B.Priske, M.Jorgensen, P.Degn, I.Alkhag.

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.

Men of the match: Meshach Wade (Bermuda); Peter Degn (Denmark).

Photos by Ras Mykkal ON THE ATTACK -- Bermuda striker Kenny Mills (9) attempts to round Danish goalkeeper Morten Hyldgaard during last night's match at BAA Field. Mills was unsuccessful on this occasion but Bermuda still came away with an impressive 2-0 victory. BELOW -- Mills gets a grip on Denmark's midfielder Mikkel Jensen.