LONDON (AFP) - Australia were beaten 3-1 by Denmark in a friendly at Loftus Road as Danish captain Jon Dahl Tomasson led the way with a two-goal haul.

The VfB Stuttgart striker blasted in an impressive fifth-minute opener before Werder Bremen midfielder Daniel Jensen headed in Denmark´s second in the 27th minute. Tomasson side-footed in a simple goal 10 minutes later.

Australia had what they thought were two good goals ruled out and stand-in captain Brett Emerton scored an 85th-minute free kick. However, it was too little, too late for the injury-depleted Socceroos in their home from home, convenient for their Europe-based best players.

The match was played at English Championship side Queens Park Rangers´ ground, in the west London heartland of Aussie expats in Britain.

Australia coach Graham Arnold had to make do without injury victims Mark Schwarzer, skipper Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell, Lucas Neill, Craig Moore, Michael Beauchamp and Luke Wilkshire.

Mark Bresciano and Jason Culina were absent as their girlfriends are about to give birth.

Fringe youngsters Michael Thwaite, Patrick Kisnorbo and Brett Holman therefore started.

Denmark coach Morten Olsen deployed his strongest available team, with only injured striker Nicklas Bendtner missing.

Australia showed their fiercely competitive approach to friendly matches when centre-half Thwaite went straight in on Tomasson in the first minute.

But the foul only served to fire up the 30-year-old, who stunned the Socceroos with an opportunistic blast from the edge of the penalty box.

The ball swerved, bamboozling stand-in Australia goalkeeper Michael Petkovic who was rooted to the spot as it flew past him.

Thwaite headed the ball in from a 22nd-minute Josip Skoko free kick but the effort was ruled out for an adjudged foul by John Aloisi.

Denmark doubled their lead when Charlton Athletic winger Dennis Rommedahl ran on and whipped in a cross from the right, finding Daniel Jensen who headed past Petkovic under little pressure.

Tomasson got his second when good passing carved open the Socceroos´ defence.

Daniel Jensen cut into the box and passed wide right for Martin Jorgensen who found former AC Milan hitman Tomasson free at the far post for a tap-in.

Australia had the ball in the Danish net for the second time two minutes later, but Aloisi´s header from another Skoko cross was ruled out.

The Socceroos were straight out on the attack after the break and Mile Sterjovski hit the crossbar in the 50th minute.

The Basel midfielder forced goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen into a diving save with a volleyed lob from distance, then seconds later blasted a shot against the woodwork from close range.

Australia´s substitute striker Ryan Griffiths, on for Everton attacking midfielder Tim Cahill, won a free kick on the edge of the box and Blackburn Rovers midfielder Emerton curled in the set piece with just a few minutes left.

For Denmark, the game was a tune-up before visiting Spain on March 24 for a key European Championship qualifying Group F match.

But for the Socceroos, looking to build on their impressive World Cup 2006 showing, the game was part of their preparations for the Asian Cup finals - at which Australia intend to stamp their dominance on the continent at the first attempt.

However, on this showing, their strength in depth could be tested in the tournament come July.