Eriksen scores on return as Dutch beat Denmark

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Welcome back.

Christian Eriksen scored moments after entering as a substitute for Denmark against the Netherlands on Saturday to make a dream return in his first international match since his cardiac arrest during the European Championship in June.

The Netherlands won the wide-open match 4-2 but the result of the friendly seemed almost irrelevant to the crowd at the stadium where Eriksen first rose to prominence for Ajax.

“To be back here is always beautiful,” Eriksen, speaking Dutch, told Dutch broadcaster NOS. “I had many beautiful years here.”

He said he still thinks often of the night he collapsed in Copenhagen against Finland.

“It's part of me. It's part of the world,” he said.

Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand enjoyed the comeback, too.

“It's always a pleasure to see Christian Eriksen play football,” he said.

Eriksen, fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, got a pat on the back from Hjulmand, a handshake from Memphis Depay, and a standing ovation from much of the Johan Cruyff Arena as he trotted onto the pitch to make his return to international competition at the start of the second half.

Hjulmand said he went through some tactics with Eriksen before sending him on. Then he had a simple message: “I said, ‘Enjoy it and welcome back.’”

Just over two minutes later Eriksen got on the score sheet, firing home a powerful shot to cut the Dutch lead to 3-2 after a thrilling first half.

“I had goosebumps,” Netherlands defender Matthijs de Ligt said. “It's great that he's back, and how he scored and hit the post today showed his absolute class.”

The Dutch dominated before the break with goals from Steven Bergwijn, Nathan Ake and Depay.

Jannik Vestergaard's 19th-minute header kept the Danes