Steffi Jones got her tenure as DFB-Team head coach under way with an impressive victory on Friday night. Her side beat Russia 4-0 in a EURO 2017 qualifying fixture on Friday evening. Germany have already guaranteed themselves a spot in the tournament and play their final qualifier on Tuesday in Ukraine (16:00 CEST).
The game was all but over after just 25 minutes. Germany opened the scoring thanks to an own goal (7’), with Leonie Maier (14’) and Kathrin Hendrich (25’) netting soon after. Lena Petermann completed the scoring with 12 minutes left on the clock.
Debutant Dallmann starts
Jones deployed her troops in a 4-4-2 formation. Lisa Weiß played between the sticks, with Isabel Kerschowski, Babett Peter, Josephine Henning and Leonie Maier making up the back four. Verena Faißt, Lena Gößling, Linda Dallmann and Kathrin Hendrich played in the middle; captain Anja Mittag and Svenja Huth started up front.
The first chance of the game went the way of the hosts, but Nadeshda Karpowa couldn’t beat Lisa Weiß. They were left to rue this missed opportunity as Lena Goeßling’s corner was deflected into her own net by Xenia Zybutowitsch soon after (7’). Leonie Maier’s volley flew into the back of the net seven minutes later, with Josephine Henning and Goeßling missing presentable opportunities to extend the lead further. The third goal came after 25 minutes when Hendrich fired home Isabel Kerschwoski’s pinpoint cross.
Petermann completes the scoring
Steffi Jones introduced Lena Petermann for Kerschowski at the break, but this didn’t alter the pattern of play. Petermann and Verena Faißt came close to bagging a fourth goal for the DFB-Team in the opening stages of the second half, with the former rounding off the scoring in the 78th minute. Russia struggled to create chances throughout the game, but hit the woodwork in the final minute of the game.