The Germany U19 Women have won their second game of the second round of qualification and now have one foot in the doorway to the European Championship finals in Slovakia (19th July – 31st July). Having already beaten tournament hosts Ireland 1-0 on Tuesday, manager Maren Meinert’s added to their tally with a 3-1 win against Poland. Germany now lead the Elite Round Qualifying Group 1 with six points ahead of Poland and Azerbaijan both on one point and Ireland still on zero.
Maren Meinert was understandably pleased after the second win in two games for her team: "That was an all-round good performance from us again. Poland sat deep and made life difficult for us."
Substitute Nina Ehegötz of 1. FC Köln scored two goals and Meppen’s Franziska Gieseke scored one to tilt the game in Germany’s favour after Poland took the lead through Wierzbicka in the 51st minute. "It’s good to have quality players on the bench who can come on and turn a game around," said Meinert about her ‘super-sub’.
Germany superior from the start
Just as they did in the opening game, the Germany U19 Women dominated proceedings from the outset in Dublin’s UCD Bowl, failing, however, to make their high chance-creation rate count. Jana Feldkamp from SGS Essen and Isabella Hartig of 1899 Hoffenheim both hit the woodwork in the opening half hour. When the teams came out for the second half, Germany continued to put the pressure on and once again, the Poles had their keeper to thank as Bayern München’s Andrea Viehl became the next Germany youngster to be denied in front of goal.
Poland, on the other hand, were clinical. With their very first shot on target, Wierzbicka put her team ahead. The goal gave Poland energy in the attack, but they only managed to hit the woodwork through Ewa Ciesla in the 62nd minute.
Meinert plays her cards right
Maren Meinert reacted to the goal bringing on Bayer Leverkusen’s Anna Gasper for Viehl, Gieseke for Ricarda Walkling and Ehegötz for Stefanie Sanders - a substitution which more than paid off for the manager. The Germany U19s did not give up, continued to put the pressure on and were finally rewarded for their efforts thanks to an Ehegötz brace and the goal to make it 2-1 from Gieseke.
As the closing game of the round against Azerbaijan on Sunday (kick-off 15:30) beckons, Meinert and her team hold all the aces. The six group winners, as well as the runner-up with the best record against their respective group’s winners and third-placed teams will qualify for the finals. European Championship hosts Slovakia are automatically qualified for the tournament starting on the 19th July.