TOM ROGIC was the Wizard of Oz as Australia drew 1-1 with Denmark in their crucial World Cup Group C encounter in Samara this afternoon.
The gifted Celtic midfielder was one of his country’s main men as they came back to get a vital point after Christian Eriksen had given the Danes a seventh-minute lead.
It took another VAR penalty decision to to make sure the Aussies got the draw they deserved. It came into play as Yussuf Poulsen was adjudged to have handled from Mathew Leckie’s header.
Mile Jedinak stepped up to score his second of the tournament seven minutes before the interval and, despite Rogic and Co impressing in the second-half, it stayed 1-1.
The Aussies must now win their final group game against Peru on Tuesday to stand a chance of qualifying for the knock-out stage.
Denmark, knowing a win would secure qualification, started well, and took the lead in superb fashion. Nicolai Jorgensen’s spin and assist was slammed home by Eriksen from 15 yards.
Then came the controversy as Leckie’s header hit the hand of Poulsen; Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz went to VAR as the ball went out of play upfield, before awarding the spot kick.
Jedinak, who scored in a similar circumstance in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by France, made no mistake, slotting home beyond Kasper Schmeichel.
The Danish keeper made two saves late on to deny Australia, first from Daniel Arzani’s angled effort, before Leckie’s volley into the ground was superbly held by the Leicester goalkeeper.
Rogic also had a drilled effort from just outside the box saved by the shotstopper.
The Celt, after running himself into the ground, was substituted eight minutes from the end with former Celtic youngster Jackson Irvine, now with Hull City, taking his place.
