In the European Championship semi-final with three wins: The Germany women’s U17 team defeated the Czech Republic 5-1, as they go into the penultimate round full of confidence this coming Thursday (11:00 CEST). After Anouschka Bernhard’s team overcame strong opponents in the form of European Championship runners-up Spain (4-1) and France (2-1), they defeated the tournament hosts to cap off a perfect run of three wins from three games in Group A.
Who they will face in the knockout round of the tournament remains to be seen, as Group B’s second game between England and Norway had to be postponed on account of heavy rainfall from 14:00 CEST to 18:00 CEST. Spain were the other team to qualify along with Germany from Group A, after they drew with France 1-1, and are set to take on the Netherlands on Thursday (18:00 CEST).
Czech Republic take the lead
Nicole Anyomi from SGS Essen bagged a brace through her 41st and 53rd minute goals to turn the game around for the Germans. Bayern München’s Verena Wieder (59’), Lea Schneider of TSG Lütter (74’), as well as Gianna Rackow from Bayer Leverkusen (80’+4) were on the scoresheet too. Michaela Khyrova gave the tournament hosts the lead shortly before the break through a converted penalty.
The physical Czech Republic side gave the young Germans some problems in Pribram, although the DFB Junior side had more possession and the better chances through Anyomi (20’) and captain Sydney Lohmann from Bayern München (26’), but were ultimately shaky at the back and prone to counterattacks.
The aforementioned vulnerability to counterattacks was exposed when Bayern’s Andrea Brunner could do nothing but foul a Czech Republic player on the counter, at which point the referee had to point to the spot (38’), and the scoreline read 1-0 to the hosts shortly before the break.
Anyomi turns match around with brace
It seems as if Anouschka Bernhard found exactly the right words in the dressing room as Germany’s performance was barely recognisable after the break. Indeed it took Anyomi just 52 seconds to find the back of the net.
The team rediscovered their mojo in front of goal that they had shown in their first two matches and the impressive Anyomi scored an excellent individual effort to make it 2-1 just minutes later. Bernhard then brought on Gianna Rackow for Kössler and the Leverkusen player immediately proved that the coach was right to put her faith in her, setting up a third for Verena Wieder with a bursting run down the left-hand side.
The Germany U17s are aiming to defend their title in the Czech Republic. The team became European champions in 2016 in Belarus, winning their fifth European title in this age group.
