Leading 2-0 after three minutes wasn’t enough to win as Germany lost 4-2 to Sweden in their opening game at the Algarve Cup. Silvia Neid’s team threw away an early two-goal lead. Dzsenifer Marozsán (2‘) und Simone Laudehr (3‘) had put Germany in front before braces for both Caroline Seger (30’/71’) und Sofia Jakobsson (54’/84’) completely turned the game on its head in favour of the Scandinavians.
Celia Sasic, who was playing her 100th international match, couldn’t find the back of the net. The second Group A game finished goalless between Brazil and China. Germany’s next game is against China on Friday (14:00 CET, live on Eurosport).
Marozsán and Laudehr provide dream start in Portugal
Not all the spectators had taken their seats in the Vila Real de Santo Antonio Platz stadium when Germany already led 2-0. Laudehr whipped in a cross for Marozsán to volley home before doubling the advantage herself after Alexandra Popp’s pass set her up nicely. Germany remained in the driving seat and created a whole host of chances. The best chance for the team to extend their lead was just before the break when Laudehr’s header rattled against the crossbar.
Sweden were asleep at the start of the match and found it difficult to get a foothold in the game. They got a stroke of luck with their goal too. Seger’s shot from the edge of the area took a deflection off Luisa Wensing and left Nadine Angerer with no chance.
Seger and Jakobsson change the game
Sweden were significantly better in the second half. DFB keeper Nadine Angerer was called into action early on to prevent the equaliser. Hanna Folkesson (53‘) found herself unmarked with only Angerer to beat but couldn’t capitalise. However, a minute later Angerer made a blunder. A long ball was played forward towards Jakobsson, Angerer charged out her area but the Swede got there first and coolly slotted the ball into the empty net.
It was real end-to-end stuff after that. Sweden were spurred on by the equaliser while Germany still looked dangerous in attack. Substitute Anja Mittag (58‘) failed to beat keeper Hedvig Lindahl from a narrow angle after a great counterattack before a strike from Jennifer Cramer (61‘) only just missed the target. But then again Seger was in the right place at the right time. She met a curling free-kick at the far post and headed Sweden into the lead. Jakobsson then got her second of the game in the closing stages. She finished off a counterattack as Sweden ran out 4-2 winners.
Leading 2-0 after three minutes wasn’t enough to win as Germany lost 4-2 to Sweden in their opening game at the Algarve Cup. Silvia Neid’s team threw away an early two-goal lead. Dzsenifer Marozsán (2‘) und Simone Laudehr (3‘) had put Germany in front before braces for both Caroline Seger (30’/71’) und Sofia Jakobsson (54’/84’) completely turned the game on its head in favour of the Scandinavians.
Celia Sasic, who was playing her 100th international match, couldn’t find the back of the net. The second Group A game finished goalless between Brazil and China. Germany’s next game is against China on Friday (14:00 CET, live on Eurosport).
Marozsán and Laudehr provide dream start in Portugal
Not all the spectators had taken their seats in the Vila Real de Santo Antonio Platz stadium when Germany already led 2-0. Laudehr whipped in a cross for Marozsán to volley home before doubling the advantage herself after Alexandra Popp’s pass set her up nicely. Germany remained in the driving seat and created a whole host of chances. The best chance for the team to extend their lead was just before the break when Laudehr’s header rattled against the crossbar.
Sweden were asleep at the start of the match and found it difficult to get a foothold in the game. They got a stroke of luck with their goal too. Seger’s shot from the edge of the area took a deflection off Luisa Wensing and left Nadine Angerer with no chance.
Seger and Jakobsson change the game
Sweden were significantly better in the second half. DFB keeper Nadine Angerer was called into action early on to prevent the equaliser. Hanna Folkesson (53‘) found herself unmarked with only Angerer to beat but couldn’t capitalise. However, a minute later Angerer made a blunder. A long ball was played forward towards Jakobsson, Angerer charged out her area but the Swede got there first and coolly slotted the ball into the empty net.
It was real end-to-end stuff after that. Sweden were spurred on by the equaliser while Germany still looked dangerous in attack. Substitute Anja Mittag (58‘) failed to beat keeper Hedvig Lindahl from a narrow angle after a great counterattack before a strike from Jennifer Cramer (61‘) only just missed the target. But then again Seger was in the right place at the right time. She met a curling free-kick at the far post and headed Sweden into the lead. Jakobsson then got her second of the game in the closing stages. She finished off a counterattack as Sweden ran out 4-2 winners.
Neid set the team up in a tried and tested 4-2-3-1 formation. The back four was made up of Kathrin Hendrich, Annike Krahn, Wensing, and Cramer with Lena Goeßling and Marozsán sitting just in front in defensive midfield. Lira Alushi, Popp and Laudehr started in attack with Sasic the lone striker.
