DENMARK-6, MALTA-0

Four goals down by half-time, Malta slumped to a humiliating 6-0 defeat to Denmark to end their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign on a dismal note.

Denmark were always seen as surefire favourites to win their home meeting against Malta but few would have anticipated that they would prevail by a six-goal margin.

Malta were poor, their mission complicated by two early goals inside the opening 11 minutes. It was men against boys as the slick Danes cut through their opponents, their flowing football exposing the technical limitations of the Maltese team.

The first was a veritable ordeal for Malta who not only struggled to keep their tactical shape but gave the ball away easily as Denmark's relentless attacking proved too much.

Malta were poor in defence, especially on the wings where the likes of Alex Muscat, Clayton Failla, Edward Herrera and John Mintoff were outpaced and outsmarted by the fast Danes who completed the rout with two late goals but their high-scoring win counted for nothing as they missed out on a place in the World Cup play-offs.

Andrè Schembri and Edward Herrera returned for Malta after suspension and injury kept them out of the 4-1 rout to the Czech Republic while Andrei Agius replaced the injured Jonathan Caruana.

Denmark coach Morten Olsen made no fewer than six changes from the 2-2 draw with Italy. Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, Mainz midfielder Nick Zimling and Nicolai Boilesen, of Ajax.

Denmark piled up the pressure from the word go.Peter Ankersen raced past Herrera and Clayton Failla on the left before sending in a teasing cross that was met by Morten Rasmussen but his header was blocked by Justin Haber, the Malta goalkeeper.On seven minutes, Agius blocked a shot by Michael Krohn-Dehli as Denmark kept pushing forward.

They opened the scoring after eight minutes. Emil Larsen drifted into the box from the left as Malta stuttered at the back. His cross flew towards Ramussen whose header was kept out by Haber but the Denmark forward poked the ball home from the rebound.

Malta's woes increased two minutes later.

Krohn-Dehli ran clear down the inside-left channel before going down under John Mintoff's challenge. Macedonian referee Aleksandar Stavrev pointed to the spot despite Mintoff's claims that the foul had occurred outside the box.Agger planted his shot past Haber to put Denmark 2-0 ahead.

Ryan Camilleri did well to block a potentially dangerous shot from Tottenham's Christian Eriksen before a cross by Krohn-Dehli was cleared with some difficulty by the Maltese defence.

The hosts remained in command, Rasmussen firing wide from the edge of the box after a surging run by Eriksen.Agius then saved Malta from another potentially harmful situation as he cleared away Eriksen's cross but, from the ensuing corner, Denmark increased their advantage on 28 minutes. Krohn-Dehli laid the ball into the path of Ankersen whose cross from the right soared above the on-rushing Haber and Bjelland was on the right spot to nod the ball into the unguarded net.

Malta recorded their first shot at goal 11 minutes from half-time when Failla's dipping shot from the distance was pushed over the bar by Kasper Schmeichel, the Denmark goalkeeper.At the other end, Malta had another close shave. Rasmussen regained possession inside the box but his grounder rolled past the base of the far post.

Eight minutes from half-time, Denmark made it 4-0. They were awarded a penalty after Agius was deemed to have pushed Larsen in the box following another prolonged raid by Denmark down the right.This time, Agger scored with a low shot as Haber dived the other way.

The Malta goalkeeper denied Denmark a fifth game with a point-blank save from Rasmussen.Three minutes into the second half, Haber pulled off a good save to fist William Kvists's looping effort over the bar.

Malta managed to create a good move involving Briffa, Mifsud and Herrera but the latter's cross from the right sailed straight towards Schmeichel.The incoming Kasper Kusk, who had just come on Eriksen, was wide with a drive from outside the box.

Outrun and outclassed in the opening half, Malta were coping better with Denmark's pressure.

The hosts managed to increase their lead 16 minutes from time thanks to Rasmussen whyoNot much happened for the next 25 minutes before Denmark worked up a head of steam.

They went 5-0 up 16 minutes from time when Rasmussen stroked the ball home from close in after Larsen's cross-shot had rolled into the Danish striker's path. This after Haber had pushed away a shot by Larsen.In a rare Maltese foray into Denmark's penalty area, Mifsud twisted his way through but his low strike ended past the far post.

Schmeichel then saved a shot by Briffa who had been served by Rowen Muscat.

Nine minutes from time, Malta had a good opportunity to score a consolation goal as Herrera set up Mifsud who ran forward unimpeded but the Melbourne Heart forward dithered and Thomas Delaney slid in to push the ball away from the Malta captain.

Schmeichel then saved Schembri's header from Failla's cross but, from their next attack, Denmark hit their sixth.Krohn-Dehli split the Malta defence with a through-ball to Nicki Bille Nielsen, on as a substitute, and the Rosenborg forward lifted the ball over Haber.

Denmark - K. Schmeichel, P. Ankersen, A. Bjelland, D. Agger, T. Delaney, C. Sloth (65 L. Andreasen), W. Kvist, C. Eriksen (53 K. Kusk), M. Krohn-Dehli, E. Larsen, M. Rasmussen (75 N.B. Nielsen).

Malta - J. Haber, A. Muscat, A. Agius, C. Failla, R. Briffa, M. Mifsud, E. Herrera (82 R. Fenech), A. Schembri, J. Mintoff, R. Muscat, R. Camilleri.

Referee Aleksandar Stavrev (Macedonia).