Budapest: Group One winners Denmark lost for the first time in this World Cup qualifying campaign, going down 1-0 at home to Hungary on Wednesday.
Eliminated Hungary grabbed the only goal in the 35th minute when midfielder Akos Buzsaky beat goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen with a low shot.
Denmark went close to an equaliser with five minutes to go but keeper Gabor Babos punched an effort from Michael Silberbauer over the bar.
"Of course I'm disappointed but I think we played well in the first half," said Denmark coach Morten Olsen.
"The players have been under so much pressure lately so it's okay that we lost the only match we could afford to lose."
The Danes finished with 21 points from 10 games, two ahead of second-placed Portugal. Hungary were fourth on 16 points.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, October 15, 2009, 09:37