Denmark 2 Italy 2: Arsenal misfit Bendtner scores twice on return from drink driving ban... but gets booked for taking his shirt off celebrating



Nicklas Bendtner scored twice on his return to the national team but Denmark conceded a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw with already qualified Italy to damage their chances of reaching next year's World Cup.

Bendtner's brace gave Denmark a 2-1 lead after Pablo Osvaldo had opened the scoring, but Alberto Aquilani netted the equaliser in injury time.

That leaves Denmark trailing second-place Bulgaria on goal difference with one game left in Group B, even though the Bulgarians lost 2-1 to Armenia.

All smiles: Bendtner ignores the referee as he's shown a yellow card for removing his shirt after scoring

All square: Nicklas Bendtner beats Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon to make it 1-1 Back in it: Bendtner celebrates his first strike with Liverpool defender Daniel Agger

MATCH FACTS

Denmark: Andersen, Bjelland, Agger, Boilesen, Jacobsen, Zimling (Andreasen 82), Kvist Jorgensen, Eriksen, Krohn-Delhi, Braithwaite (Larsen 45), Bendtner (Makienok 83). Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Kjaer, Delaney, Sloth, Ankersen, Hansen. Booked: Bjelland,Zimling,Boilesen. Goals: Bendtner 45,78. Italy: Buffon, De Silvestri, Chiellini, Balzaretti, Ranocchia, Thiago Motta, Marchisio (Aquilani 68), Candreva, Montolivo (Gilardino 81), Diamanti (Cerci 76), Osvaldo. Subs Not Used: Marchetti, Florenzi, Giaccherini, De Rossi, Bonucci, Poli, Sirigu. Goals: Osvaldo 27, Aquilani 90. Att: 35,000 Ref: Stephane Lannoy (France). Click HERE for full results, fixtures and tables in European World Cup qualifying - plus your stats zone from the match That leaves Denmark trailing second-place Bulgaria on goal difference with one game left in Group B, even though the Bulgarians lost 2-1 to Armenia. Denmark coach Morten Olsen called the outcome 'an unreal feeling'. Osvaldo, who signed for Southampton during the summer transfer window, took advantage of a Danish defensive failure to open the scoring in the 28th minute by cutting inside and curling the ball beyond goalkeeper Stephan Andersen. After the goal, the Danes pushed forward and tested goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon several times, with Christian Eriksen's effort just missing the target in the 38th minute. Bendtner finally provided the equaliser in the 45th minute with a downward header that bounced past Buffon and into the net.

He scored a similar goal with just over 10 minutes remaining to put Denmark ahead, and was then booked for taking his shirt off while celebrating. The Arsenal striker had been suspended from the national side for six months for a drink driving incident. The Danes kept pressing and hit the post twice in the second half, but Aquilani's late goal ruined the Danes' hopes of taking control of second place in the group.