It was the top game of this week’s European Qualifiers. The Germany U21s beat Austria 4-2 in a game of real quality. The Schalke trio of Max Meyer, Leon Goretzka and Leroy Sané, as well as Leipzig’s Davie Selke scored the goals for the DFB-Team. Hamburg’s Michael Gregoritsch scored both goals for the visitors. Manager Horst Hrubesch’s Germany U21s now lead Group 7 with 15 points.
A game of many twists and turns in Fürth got off to a balanced start. It was very clear how much the game meant to the two teams. The defensive lines stood tight in the opening stages and there was no breaking through for the attackers. After 20 minutes, the first shot on goal for the visitors found the back of the net: Austria’s captain Gregoritsch put his team 1-0 up from the spot. Goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther was helpless.
Sané leads the Germany attack
Visibly rattled after going behind, Germany stepped things up a gear and pushed forward with a lot more courage. Leroy Sané in particular, on his return from the senior team, was the centre of attention in a lot of the Germany U21s’ attacks. In the 28th minute, the DFB-Team had their first chance at goal: Joshua Kimmich got on the end of the corner but failed to find the net from twelve yards. Germany were finding their way into the game more and more, kept increasing the pressure and began to really threaten at goal. The Austrians sat back and waited for the opportunity to counter.
The fast pace of the game continued throughout the whole of the first half. The next chance of the game fell to Schalke’s Max Meyer 20 yards from goal in the 36th minute, but he sent his shot just over the bar. Three minutes later he made up for it as he had another chance from a similar position, which he this time managed to put past the keeper to make it 1-1.
U21 captain Goretzka puts the team ahead
Shortly before half time, Max Meyer turned creator, sending free kick from out wide into the box where his Schalke teammate and U21 captain Leon Goretzka emerged to nod the ball over the line from close range, giving Germany a 2-1 lead at the break.
In the second half, the Germans picked up where they had left off. After a lovely bit of play in the middle of the park, Kevin Akpoguma swung in the perfect cross from the right. Davie Selke obliged and scored from seven yards to put his team 3-1 up. With the wind now very much in their sails, the Germany U21s moved the ball forward effortlessly and created a number of good chances. Leroy Sané eventually rounded off his fantastic performance with a goal of his own in the 76th minute to make it 4-1. Gregoritsch gave the visitors a glimmer of hope in the 86th minute with his second of the game, but the game finished 4-2 to Germany.
With that, the DFB U21s have made it five wins out of five in their European qualifying campaign and now lead Group 7 with a maximum 15 points. The next game will not be until the new year when Germany welcome the Faroe Islands U21s on the 24th March 2016.
