Chris Popov scored a fine goal as Wales opened up a two-goal lead before Denmark hit back
Wales let slip a two-goal lead as they slumped to a 6-2 defeat to Denmark in their opening European Under-21 Championship qualifier in Newport.
Matty Jones' side made a stunning start at Rodney Parade, taking the lead within a minute through Tanatswa Nyakuhwa.
The excellent Nyakuhwa then fashioned a second for Wales, releasing Chris Popov who applied a cool finish.
Thomas Jorgensen pulled a goal back for Denmark before half-time, his run not picked up on the edge of the area, before Adam Daghim levelled soon after the restart.
Denmark completed their comeback when Conrad Harder stooped at the back post to give the visitors the lead for the first time, with Oscar Schwartau, August Priske and Silas Andersen adding late goals to give the scoreline a lopsided look.
Jones gave a debut to Dan Cox, who lined up in a central defence back three, while fellow new faces Gabriele Biancheri, Vimal Yoganathan and Kit Margetson were on the bench.
Denmark arrived as Group I top seeds and were captained by Oscar Hojlund, younger brother of Rasmus Hojlund - the Manchester United striker who has joined Napoli on loan with an obligation to buy.
Wales were on the front foot from kick-off and when Luey Jones played a lofted ball down the left wing for Nyakuhwa, the Cardiff City youngster cut in-field before unleashing a low strike that flew past Theo Sander into the Danish net.
Nyakuhwa then created a second before the break, rolling his marker and racing away to pick out Popov with an incisive through ball, the striker crashing a left-foot shot into the far top corner.
Denmark hit back when Clement Bischoff cut the ball back from the left wing for the advancing Jorgensen to bury past Evan Watts.
The visitors levelled early in the second half when Hojlund picked out Daghim on the right, who was given far too much time to pick his spot low back across Watts.
Wales escaped when Harder cut inside only to see his left-foot shot cannon back off the crossbar, before Watts had to get down smartly to deny Jorgensen.
Denmark's second-half dominance finally told when Bischoff managed to prevent the ball going dead and dug out a looped cross for Conrad to head home at the back post.
Schwartau sealed Denmark's victory as the substitute bulldozed his way between Watts and Cox to claim a ball over the top and poke home.
A night that had begun so encouragingly for Wales ended with them conceding two more goals, as Denmark ripped through their right flank twice in quick succession.
Priske was the first beneficiary, dinking the ball over Watts as the keeper went to ground too early - although the Swansea City product was given no chance by Andersen's low finish into the far bottom corner two minutes later.
After the reverse against Denmark, Wales host Belgium on 10 October then travel to Austria four days later, with Belarus the other pool opponents.
- Published29 August
Wales U21 squad
Evan Watts (Swansea City – on loan at Galway FC), Kit Margetson (Swansea City – on loan at Connah's Quay Nomads), Luke Armstrong (Cardiff City – on loan at Penybont FC), Archie Harris (AFC Bournemouth – on loan at Eastleigh FC), Luey Giles (Cardiff City), Zac Williams (Crewe Alexandra – on loan at Kilmarnock FC), Dan Cox (Derby County – on loan at Walsall FC), Ben Hammond (Nottingham Forest), Ed James (Exeter City), Sam Parker (Swansea City), Alex Williams (West Bromwich Albion), Joel Cotterill (Swansea City), Jonathan Bland (Barnsley FC), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City), Callum Agius (Crewe Alexandra), Cian Ashford (Cardiff City), Tanatswa Nyakuhwha (Cardiff City), Cameron Congreve (Swansea City), Ben Lloyd (Swansea City – on loan at Newport County), Luke Harris (Fulham FC – on loan at Oxford United), Vimal Yoganathan (Barnsley FC), Chris Popov (Leicester City), Gabriele Biancheri (Manchester United).
