Scotland travelled to Denmark needing all three points, while a draw was enough for the hosts, who topped Group 3 by a single point.
Neither side posed significant danger in a cagey first half.
Scotland worked hard, with the midfield four battling for every ball. The home side occasionally looked dangerous coming forward, but Rachel Corsie and Ifeoma Dieke were composed at the centre of defence.
Denmark’s first real sniff of goal came in the 9th minute when Joanne Love fouled Paaske-Sørensen on the edge of the box. Rasmussen curled in an inviting free kick, which sailed over the crowded penalty area.
Scotland could have had a lucky break on 16 minutes. Sneddon whipped in a free-kick from the right wing right on top of Cederkvist in the Danish goal. There were gasps around the stadium when it looked as though she had punched into her own net, but the ball edged wide.
Mid-way through the half, Scotland coach Anna Signeul shuffled her pack. In a formation tested in last month’s friendly in Poland, imposing right-back Jennifer Beattie moved up front to partner Pauline Hamill, with Leanne Ross dropping into defence and Suzanne Grant moving wide right.
Scotland now had a target up front but were struggling to get service to Beattie and Hamill. Beattie’s best chance came when she struck a long-range free-kick on the half hour, but the ball sailed over.
Scotland looked determined after the break. After two minutes Beattie had the ball at her feet in the box but couldn’t get a shot off. The ball squirmed out towards Little whose shot was deflected over.
Denmark stepped up a gear as the half wore on, piling the pressure on the Scotland defence.
Veje and Paaske-Sørensen both had shots on goal, while Corsie showed great pace to get back and hook the ball away from the feet of the on-rushing Pape.
Scotland captain Fay kept Scotland’s hopes alive, running out to block from Christansen on 65 minutes, before pulling off a superb double-save to deny Paaske-Sørensen in the closing minutes.
Scotland continued to battle but couldn’t find a way past a Danish defence, which failed to concede a single goal in the qualifying campaign.
Denmark: Tine Cederkvist, Line Røddik Hansen, Christina Øyangen Ørntoft, Janni Arnth Jensen, Mariann Gajhede Knudsen, Cathrine Paaske-Sørensen, Maiken Pape, Nanna Christiansen (Katrine Pedersen, 88), Katrine Veje (Pernille Harder, 82), Johanna Rasmussen, Theresa Nielsen.
Unused subs - Heidi Johansen, Julie Rydahl Bukh, Nadia Nadim, Sanne Troelsgaard Nielsen, Mette Jensen
Scotland: Gemma Fay, Jennifer Beattie, Ifeoma Dieke, Leanne Ross, Joanne Love, Kim Little, Megan Sneddon, Pauline Hamill, Rachel Corsie, Emma Fernon, Suzanne Grant.
Unused subs - Shannon Lynn, Rhonda Jones, Christie Murray, Hayley Lauder, Jane Ross, Frankie Brown, Joelle Murray.
Source - scottishfa.co.uk
