Playoff Wrap: Danes demolish North Macedonia, Gyokeres nets hat-trick to help Sweden progress

GREAT DANES: Denmark's Morten Hjulmand, left, and Rasmus Hojlund celebrate an emphatic win. Pic: Liselotte Sabroe and Ritzau Scanpix/AP

Gustav Isaksen scored twice in two minutes as Denmark powered to a 4-0 win over North Macedonia in their 2026 ​World Cup European play-off semi-final in Copenhagen on Thursday to ‌earn a place in Tuesday’s Path D decider against either Czech Republic or Ireland.

Mikkel Damsgaard and Christian Norgaard were also on target as Denmark pulled away ​in the second half having been held scoreless in the ​opening period, and they now head to the final seeking ⁠a third successive World Cup qualification.

North Macedonia never showed much ambition ​to get forward but were stubborn opponents in the first 45 minutes. ​Once behind though, the floodgates opened and the home side scored three goals in 10 minutes to make the tie safe.

Denmark went ahead four minutes into the ​second half as their pressure finally took its toll. Isaksen was ​denied by an excellent last-ditch tackle and as the ball fell loose in the ‌box, ⁠Damsgaard fired into the empty net.

It was 2-0 on 58 minutes as Damsgaard turned provider when his excellent cross to the back post was steered into the net by Isaksen.

The tie was made safe ​a minute later ​when he scored ⁠his second goal. Victor Froholdt’s shot from the edge of the box was only parried by North ​Macedonia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski and Isaksen turned in the ​rebound.

The fourth ⁠goal was far too easy as Christian Eriksen’s corner to the back post was going directly in but was helped over the line by ⁠teammate ​Norgaard.

Viktor Gyokeres scores his second of three against Ukraine. Pic: Alberto Saiz/AP

Meanwhile, Sweden are 90 minutes ​from a place in the World Cup finals after striker Viktor Gyokeres ‌scored a superb hat-trick to sweep aside Ukraine 3-1 on Thursday and set up a winner-takes-all playoff game against Poland in Stockholm on Tuesday.

The Swedes took an early lead when Benjamin Nygren flashed the ball across ​the box and Gyokeres was on hand to stab it into the ⁠net from close range in the sixth minute.

The Ukrainians found themselves two goals down six minutes into the second half as Nordfeldt launched a long ball for Gyokeres, and he latched onto it and cut inside before unleashing a quick-fire shot ​that took Ukraine keeper ​Anatoliy Trubin by ⁠surprise.

The game was effectively decided in the 71st minute when Gyokeres was again played in ​behind and Trubin felled him in the box to give away ​a penalty ⁠and earn a yellow card, with the 27-year-old striker dusting himself off to complete his hat-trick.

Ukraine grabbed a consolation goal through ⁠Matviy Ponomarenko ​in the 90th minute.

In the other playoff games, Poland came from behind to beat Albania 2-1 and reach the playoff finals, with Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski netting ‌second-half goals to set up a Path B decider away to Sweden on Tuesday. Kosovo twice came from behind to beat Slovakia 4-3 away in a thriller to ensure a ​decisive home clash against Turkey on Tuesday.

Earlier, Turkey moved within one game of ending their long World Cup absence as Ferdi Kadioglu's second-half goal ​secured a 1-0 win over Romania in their playoff ‌semi-final on Thursday, following a moment of brilliance from Arda Guler.