Copenhagen, Denmark (AFP) – Five players scored on Tuesday in Denmark’s 5-0 win over Israel to put Denmark on the verge of advancing to the 2022 World Cup, with only half the qualifying matches played.

Having reached the semi-finals of the European Championship, the Dane still holds a perfect record of winning six World Cup qualifiers without a goal. Another win could seal a place in next year’s tournament in Qatar.

Israel entered the game as runners-up in Group F, but the closest to the goal was when Iran Jahavi put the ball into the net before it was passed offside. Otherwise Israel would not have fired a single shot at the target.

Yusuf Poulsen scored Denmark’s goal in the 28th minute with a rebounding goal when Israeli goalkeeper Ophir Marciano failed to block Mikel Damsgaard’s shot. Three minutes later, Danish captain Simon Kejer scored his side’s second goal from a free kick, ahead of goals from Andreas Skov Olsen and Thomas Delaney.

Andreas Cornelius finished with a fifth goal in stoppage time and was 22nd in just six qualifying matches for Denmark.

Denmark leads the group with seven points over Scotland, who beat Austria 1–0 to finish second in the group.

Based on results elsewhere, Denmark could take first place and qualify in their next game against Moldova on 9 October. Denmark defeated Moldova 8–0 in their last meeting.

Scotland won in Vienna thanks to a 30th-minute penalty from Lyndon Dykes, who was awarded for a foul on Che Adams after a review of the video. Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon made a brilliant save to stop Christoph Baumgartner from a corner in the 79th minute to keep his team in the lead. Austrian fans thrashed the team at the final whistle.

Second place in Group F would give Scotland a play-off spot and a chance to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

Feru Islands beat Moldova 2-1.

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