In a group where Denmark are locked in a tight battle at the top with Austria and Belgium, the match in Vejle against bottom-placed Belarus was a must-win game.
The young Danes secured a convincing victory over Belarus, thanks to two goals from Conrad Harder. Head coach Lars Knudsen handed a U21 debut to Noah Sahsah, who proved to be the standout performer of the first half.
The Rosenborg player repaid the coach's faith by orchestrating several of Denmark's best chances, though midfielders Oscar Hojlund and William Clem failed to convert them into goals. Sahsah’s influence waned in the second half, but other players stepped up.
One of them was OB’s Marcus McCoy, and during one of his many promising runs from right wing-back, he delivered a low cross straight to the feet of Conrad Harder.
Denmark’s number nine confidently fired the ball home with his clinical right foot to give Denmark a 1-0 lead. The highlight of the evening for Denmark then came just after the hour mark.
Displaying great concentration and patience, the young Danes circulated the ball within their own ranks, and a series of slick combinations down the right flank suddenly left Clem unmarked.
The FC Copenhagen player played the ball across to Harder, who once again showed ice-cold composure in front of goal. The Strasbourg player made it 2-0 before being substituted, having scored twice.
After that, the Danes seemed content to calmly see out the victory, while key players like Oscar Hojlund and Valdemar Byskov were substituted.
The next match awaits on Friday, when the Danes travel to Austria before hosting Belgium in the final match of the Under-21 European Championship qualifying group.