Denmark 2 Uruguay 1
Jon Dahl Tomasson scored late in either half to give Denmark a vital opening win over Uruguay at the Gwanjgu World Cup Stadium in Ulsan.
With group favourites France having been stunned by Senegal in the tournament-opener both sides were looking to take full advantage.
And it was Newcastle old boy Tomasson who stormed to the top of the goalscoring charts with fine finishes on the stroke of half-time and then seven minutes from the end to give the Danes the points.
Tomasson side-footed home a Jesper Gronkjaer cross to break the deadlock and give the Danes a lead they barely deserved in terms of possession.
Dario Rodriguez smashed home a brilliant left-foot volley from some 25 metres for the equaliser barely two minutes after the restart, netting only his third goal in the light blue of the 'Charruas'.
But Tomasson, who had a nightmare with Newcastle five years ago but refound his form at Dutch side Feyenoord, winning the UEFA Cup this season to earn a big-money move to AC Milan, struck the winner when it seemed the game was headed for a draw.
The 25-year-old outjumped two static defenders to power home a header after a cross from Martin Jorgensen.
Milan appear to have bought the right man if Tomasson's finishes are anything to go by.
Rodriguez, a 27-year-old Ronaldo lookalike tried his party piece again some 15 minutes later - but this time an oustretched Danish leg got in the way.
Thereafter the contest, which had been end-to-end in the opening period, developed into more of a tactical game of chess.