The finals of the Nations League returned to North America and the United States, with 86,000 in attendance at Los Angeles' Memorial Coliseum for a clash between favorites Argentina and underdogs Denmark. The first half was very intense, with both teams clashing in offensive runs. Argentina were the first to score, Lorenzo volleying in a cross from Burruchaga on an argentine free kick to give his team the lead. The Albiceleste grew too confident though, and the Danes quickly punished this with back-to-back goals. Jensen's corner after a good offensive danish action found Nielsen alone, who headed in an equalizer. Two minutes later, a danish counter-attack after a failed argentine pass saw Laudrup dribble his way through the Argentine defense and find Larsen sitting in the box. The danish midfielder easily made it 2-1, as neither team then dared go for any risky offensives, keeping the score that way at half-time.
Argentina kept pressing forward during a second half where the danes defended with all their might, but it just wouldn't be enough. Maradona got through the danish defense, sending the ball to Sensini, who crossed it back to the Argentine captain, who easily scored and made it 2-2. This threw the game into turmoil once more, as Denmark's Larsen nearly got a shot on goal a few minutes later, while Maradona nearly found the net as well, only for his shot to be saved by Schmeichel.
This went into overtime, and both teams seemed to be tired from the first intense 90 minutes. Argentina struck first with a wonderful long-range shot from Maradona, who slipped the ball past the danish keeper and into the net to make it 3-2. The danes didn't give up, and captain Michael Laudrup forced a penalty only two minutes later. However, he couldn't transform it as Goycochea stepped up and saved the shot. Nevertheless, the danes pressed on in the second half. Argentina had a few chances, most notably Calderon's shot flying right over Schmeichel's bar, but in the end the danes created the most chances. Brian Laudrup missed a crucial chance at the 117th minute, seeing his shot saved by the argentine keeper, rebound to him, only for him to miss and send the ball flying over the bar. One last chance came for Denmark as a missed shot by Larsen gave a corner kick, taken by Vilfort. The corner was well struck, and headed towards Schmeichel, who'd run forward. The header was deviated to Piechnik, who equalized at the last second.
This therefore went all the way to penalties, with Argentina shooting first. Schmeichel put up a monstruous performance, saving both Gustavo Dezotti and Gabriel Calderon's shots, while Michael Laudrup and Flemming Povlsen would both score. The Albiceleste scored their next one, Lorenzo finding the back of the net, and bought themselves some time with Larsen missing his shot, sending it off the left post. Argentina scored again with Sensini, but Brian Laudrup also scored his. Diego Maradona stepped up and scored, leveling the score to 3-3. It was now all on Kim Vilfort, and the danish midfielder did not falter, sending it into the argentine net, and giving Denmark its first ever Nations League title.
Larsen scores to give Denmark the lead in the first half of the final
Maradona scores his second goal to give Argentina the lead in overtime
Schmeichel and the rest of the danish squad celebrate as they win the penalty shoot-out against Argentina
