World Cup 2010 qualifiers: Group One

Oct 12 2008

SOREN LARSEN helped himself to a double as Denmark beat Malta 3-0 in Copenhagen to go two points clear at the top.

Toulouse frontman Larsen settled any nerves the Danes might have felt in facing the group's whipping boys when he bagged the opener in nine minutes.

The Scandinavians tested Malta keeper Justin Haber throughout the first half and it was no surprise when Daniel Agger added a second from the penalty spot after 28 minutes.

Larsen headed home his second after the interval to wrap up the scoring although Dennis Rommedahl netted for the Danes in 66 minutes only to see the linesman's flag raised for offside.

Sweden stay second after they had to settle for a goalless draw with Portugal in Stockholm.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, skippering the home side in place of the injured Henrik Larsson, nearly snatched a late winner when he rattled in a left-foot drive fromoutside the box but keeper Quim kept Portugal in the game with a stunning save.

Second-half strikes from Sandor Torghelle and Roland Juhasz handed Hungary a 2-0 victory over Albania in Budapest.

Torghelle fired the Magyars ahead four minutes after the break, rising above the defence to head in a Szabolcs Huszti cross from close range.

Juhasz finally killed off the Albanians eight minutes from time when he met a corner to nod home a second via the legs of keeper Arjan Beqaj.