The Republic of Ireland earned what could turn out to be a valuable World Cup playoff draw against Denmark at Telia Parken in Copenhagen, setting them up for a huge return leg in Dublin.
Denmark started the match brightly, when Simon Kjaer played an excellent ball in over the top from deep for Jens Styger Larsen to shoot from close range at the back post in the 12th minute, but he was denied by the alert Darren Randolph before the Ireland goalkeeper reacted quickly to produce a second immediately from Andreas Cornelius.
Christian Eriksen enjoyed a shot in the 22nd minute, but Randolph was equal to it. It was a similar tale five minutes later when Nicolai Jorgenesen shot marginally wide from distance, 25 yards out.
A wayward clearance from Ciaran Clark on the half-hour mark saw Eriksen gifted with a chance to shoot from distance once more, and although Randolph palmed the ball away, it only went as far as Pione Sisto who should really have done better with the rebound just outside the six-yard box, shooting wide of the far post.
Cyrus Christie caused havoc on the right flank, rounding Larsen after a nice interchange with Murphy and Hendrick, before surging inside the area. His attempted chip was blocked only as far as Jeff Hendrick, but although he earned Ireland a corner with a turn-and-shot, the set piece came to nothing.
The second half began with neither side taking control - Denmark still enjoyed most of the possession, but failed to produce much of note until Yussuf Poulsen's speculative, long-range effort dragged wide of Randolph's post in the 70th minute, while Martin O' Neill's charges stayed on the defensive with Harry Arter stealing Eriksen's thunder on several occasions.
Chances were few and far between for the visitors, but a Robbie Brady free kick earned Clark a half-chance inside the Denmark 18-yard box not long into the second half, but the ball took a deflection on the way to him and the defender couldn't adjust his body to direct it on goal as the opportunity went away.
Ireland produced two good chances late on through a Brady strike from distance and Shane Duffy header from a Brady free kick, but it was Randolph who proved himself the hero when he denied a point-blank Poulsen header deep into stoppage time as Ireland left Copenhagen with a positive result.
Denmark: Kasper Schmeichel, Simon Kjaer, Peter Ankersen, William Kvist, Thomas Delaney, Nicolai Jorgensen, Christian Eriksen, Andreas Bjelland, Jens Stryger Larsen, Andreas Cornelius (Yussuf Poulsen 64), Pione Sisto (Nicklas Bendtner 73)
Substitutes: Jonas Lossi, Jesper Hansen, Mike Jensen, Jannik Vestergaard, Andreas Christensen, Mathias Jorgensen, Jonas Knudsen, Viktor Fischer, Lukas Lerager, Lasse Schone
Republic of Ireland: Darren Randolph, Cyrus Christie, Ciaran Clark, Daryl Murphy (Shane Long 74), Robbie Brady, James McClean, Callum O' Dowda, Jeff Hendrick (Conor Hourihane 93), Stephen Ward, Shane Duffy, Harry Arter (Glenn Whelan 88)
Substitutes: Keiren Westwood, Rob Elliot, John O' Shea, Paul McShane, Aiden McGeady, Wes Hoolahan, Matthew Doherty, Scott Hogan, Kevin Long
Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia)