Germany saw off a valiant challenge from England to secure their fifth consecutive European
Women's Championship crown with a resounding 6-2 victory in an
entertaining match in Helsinki on Thursday.
Germany took an early lead at the Olympic Stadium through
all-time leading scorer Birgit Prinz, who slotted home adroitly
from Inka Grings's clever reverse pass, before Melanie Behringer
made it 2-0 with a stunning 40-yard drive into the top-left corner.
England, though, responded immediately and halved the deficit
two minutes later when Karen Carney tapped into an empty net after
a slaloming run into the penalty area from Boston Breakers star
Kelly Smith.
European Women's Championship 2009: Germany win Title
Grings scores twice
Germany, the reigning world champions, re-established their
two-goal advantage shortly after half-time with a goal that will
have disappointed England coach Hope Powell. A German corner wasn't dealt with and when Annike Krahn's shot bounced back off the right-hand post, Kim Kulig was on hand to slam the ball into the roof of the net.
Again England fought back, Smith firing an expert left-foot shot
across Nadine Angerer and into the bottom-right corner, but Grings
brilliantly headed home Kerstin Garefrekes's right-wing cross to
kill off England´s comeback hopes and become the first player to
score five goals in the tournament´s history.
Grings curled home her second of the game and sixth of the
tournament with 15 minutes remaining after skipping past Faye
White, before Prinz claimed her brace by smashing home from just
inside the area.
created by er
[bild2]
Germany saw off a valiant challenge from England to secure their fifth consecutive European
Women's Championship crown with a resounding 6-2 victory in an
entertaining match in Helsinki on Thursday.
Germany took an early lead at the Olympic Stadium through
all-time leading scorer Birgit Prinz, who slotted home adroitly
from Inka Grings's clever reverse pass, before Melanie Behringer
made it 2-0 with a stunning 40-yard drive into the top-left corner.
England, though, responded immediately and halved the deficit
two minutes later when Karen Carney tapped into an empty net after
a slaloming run into the penalty area from Boston Breakers star
Kelly Smith.
European Women's Championship 2009: Germany win Title
Grings scores twice
Germany, the reigning world champions, re-established their
two-goal advantage shortly after half-time with a goal that will
have disappointed England coach Hope Powell. A German corner wasn't dealt with and when Annike Krahn's shot bounced back off the right-hand post, Kim Kulig was on hand to slam the ball into the roof of the net.
[bild1]
Again England fought back, Smith firing an expert left-foot shot
across Nadine Angerer and into the bottom-right corner, but Grings
brilliantly headed home Kerstin Garefrekes's right-wing cross to
kill off England´s comeback hopes and become the first player to
score five goals in the tournament´s history.
Grings curled home her second of the game and sixth of the
tournament with 15 minutes remaining after skipping past Faye
White, before Prinz claimed her brace by smashing home from just
inside the area.