U20s on brink of quarter-finals after 3-0 win over Mexico

The Germany women’s U20s team can potentially start making plans for the quarter-final of the World Cup in Papua New Guinea. The three-time champions defeated Mexico 3-0 to give them a perfect record of six points from two games, which has put them on the verge of the next stage. In the group’s other fixture, South Korea beat Venezuela 3-0 to ensure that Germany’s passage to the final eight is not yet sealed - but a draw would be enough to guarantee top spot, and they would even progress with a narrow defeat.

”It was a very even game in the first half,” said coach Maren Meinert. “I don’t know what would have happened if Mexico had taken the lead, but then we got that bit of luck in the second half. I have to give full credit to my team - we stood up to the challenge well and deserved to get the win in the end.”

Two new faces in the starting eleven

After a tight first 45 minutes in the capital city of Port Moresby, Meinert’s side got the second period off to a flyer when Stefanie Antonia Sanders broke the deadlock within three minutes of the restart. Goals from Saskia Matheis and Sanders again put the seal on the result.

Meinert made two changes to the starting line-up, bringing in Dina Orschmann and Stefanie Antonia Sanders. As the two teams who won their opening games faced off, they cancelled each other out in the opening stages, before the Germany side began to gain the upper hand and created one or two goalscoring opportunities.

Both sides hit the woodwork

They did suffer a scare in the 25th minute, however, when Mexico’s Jacqueline Crowther headed against the post. Germany responded well and hit the woodwork themselves just three minutes later, when Matheis received the ball from Laura Freigang and let fly from 20 metres out.

That effort set something of a trend for the remainder of the first half, with the reigning champions trying their luck from distance on a number of occasions. First Freigang herself, and then Anna Gerhardt, came closest to hitting the target. Meanwhile, the Mexicans looked to threaten down the right and from set-pieces, leaving the game goalless and evenly balanced at the break.

Sanders makes quick impact

There were no changes in personnel at the break, but it didn’t take long for there to be a change in the scoreline. Gerhardt broke away from her opponent Monica Flores and got a shot away on goal, which was well saved by goalkeeper Emily Alvarado, but Sanders managed to divert a second effort into the back of the net from just a metre out.

The Mexican resistance was not yet broken, and the game remained open. They went in search of an equaliser, coming closest just before the hour mark when Carina Schlüter pulled off a superb stop to deny Maria Sanchez from a narrow angle.

Matheis and Sanders profit from goalkeeping mistakes

Alvarado had looked in fine form until making an error in the 67th minute that put the game beyond doubt, when she parried out Gerhardt’s shot straight to Matheis, who made no mistake and doubled her side’s lead.

With their Mexican opponents looking beaten in the latter stages of the game, the reigning champions even added a late third through Sanders. The outstanding Gerhardt was once again involved, playing Sanders through, and she made the most of Alvarado’s moment of hesitation to round off the scoring.

Sitting comfortably at the top of the group with six points, having scored six and conceded just once, Germany’s title defence rolls on.