The Germany women’s national team were able to beat England and record their second win in the SheBelievesCup in the USA on Sunday night. In the second game of the four-team tournament in the south-east of the United States, Silvia Neid’s team overcame England in Nashville, Tennessee, through two late goals, earning themselves a 2-1 win.
England found themselves in front after nine minutes, breaking the deadlock through Toni Duggan's header. The DFB-Team were committed to their task throughout against a defensively well organised England side, but found it hard to break through. However, goals from Sara Däbritz and Babett Peter turned the game in Germany’s favour late on.
Neid: ‘‘I am very happy“
“We didn’t play as we hoped to in the first half. We didn’t put enough pressure on the ball, but we managed to create a few opportunities anyway. Unfortunately, we couldn’t take any of the chances though. England were a constant threat in the air from set pieces. We played more aggressively after the break, won the important tackles and turned the game around. I am very happy,” said Neid, who is missing a total of seven players at the SheBelievesCup. “However, I am also happy that we have players here who have performed really well and have taken on responsibility. It has given me confidence ahead of the Olympics. It’s a shame that Sara Däbritz, who had an outstanding second half and was instrumental in us turning the game around, will be unavailable for the match against the USA after picking up her second yellow card of the tournament.”
After the USA’s 1-0 win over France in the other fixture, Germany are now leading the pack with six points in the high quality tournament leading up to the Olympic Games in Rio, equal on points with the USA but above them on goals scored. In the other tie, Alex Morgan scored the winner for the hosts in the first minute of the game. England and France are still searching for their first points of the competition. Germany will take on the USA this coming Thursday (19:45 local time, 01:45 CET) in Boca Raton, Florida, in the final game of the tournament.
The Germany women’s national team were able to beat England and record their second win in the SheBelievesCup in the USA on Sunday night. In the second game of the four-team tournament in the south-east of the United States, Silvia Neid’s team overcame England in Nashville, Tennessee, through two late goals, earning themselves a 2-1 win.
England found themselves in front after nine minutes, breaking the deadlock through Toni Duggan's header. The DFB-Team were committed to their task throughout against a defensively well organised England side, but found it hard to break through. However, goals from Sara Däbritz and Babett Peter turned the game in Germany’s favour late on.
Neid: ‘‘I am very happy“
“We didn’t play as we hoped to in the first half. We didn’t put enough pressure on the ball, but we managed to create a few opportunities anyway. Unfortunately, we couldn’t take any of the chances though. England were a constant threat in the air from set pieces. We played more aggressively after the break, won the important tackles and turned the game around. I am very happy,” said Neid, who is missing a total of seven players at the SheBelievesCup. “However, I am also happy that we have players here who have performed really well and have taken on responsibility. It has given me confidence ahead of the Olympics. It’s a shame that Sara Däbritz, who had an outstanding second half and was instrumental in us turning the game around, will be unavailable for the match against the USA after picking up her second yellow card of the tournament.”
After the USA’s 1-0 win over France in the other fixture, Germany are now leading the pack with six points in the high quality tournament leading up to the Olympic Games in Rio, equal on points with the USA but above them on goals scored. In the other tie, Alex Morgan scored the winner for the hosts in the first minute of the game. England and France are still searching for their first points of the competition. Germany will take on the USA this coming Thursday (19:45 local time, 01:45 CET) in Boca Raton, Florida, in the final game of the tournament.
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Seven changes to the starting XI
Silvia Neid rung in the changes for the game against England, making seven alterations from the team that played against France. The only players who kept their places were captain Saskia Bartusiak, defensive midfielders Dzsenifer Marozsán and Melanie Behringer, as well as Isabel Kerschowski in left attacking midfield. The replacements for the others were, goalkeeper Laura Benkarth, Kathrin Hendrich, Josephine Henning and Tabea Kemme in defence and Anna Blässe, Mandy Islacker and Andrea Popp in attack.
The Germany team impressed with a polished defensive performance against France, however, they were more attacking for the clash with England in front of 23,363 spectators. In the World Cup third-place play-off in June and the friendly in November in Duisburg, neither of the teams were able to score in the regular 90 minutes. That changed this time in the early stages. The ball was crossed from a free kick and was cleared to the halfway line, but at the second attempt Toni Duggan was able to head the ball into the far corner, leaving Benkarth with no chance.
Peppering the goal from distance
The DFB-Team were not fazed though. They were forced to shoot from range mostly though against England’s strong defence. The first attempt was from Tabea Kemme who fired at goal from 20 yards, but couldn’t beat the goalkeeper. Then Dzsenifer Marozsán fired just over the bar shortly after. Whenever the Lionesses were dangerous, it was from set-pieces.
Throughout the first half, England didn’t dare to take risks and broke up any attacks early, which frustrated the Germans. There was a lack of clear goalscoring opportunities. A long-range effort from Melanie Behringer and a header from Alexandra Popp were all too easy for England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley. The DFB women managed to create a good chance just before the break though. Bardsley was unsure under a high ball, but Kerschowski was taken by surprise and could only fire over the crossbar when the ball fell to her ten yards out .
Däbritz gives Germany a second wind
Lena Goeßling and Däbritz came on at the break for Behringer and Marozsán. The game stayed the same, as the DFB-Team pushed forwards without managing to fashion any goalscoring opportunities and England defended. After both sides had made changes, the game came to life, as a free kick from Däbritz threatened the England goal and Alex Scott came close with a header at the other end.
In the 75th minute, the ball finally found its way into the back of the net when Islacker stabbed a header from Popp over the line. Unfortunately though, the Wolfsburg player was a few centimetres offside. Barely a minute later, Germany were rewarded for their efforts when they got some luck, as Gily Flaherty deflected Däbritz’s shot from a narrow angle into her own goal.
Neid’s team didn’t want to settle for a draw though and after a rash challenge from Fara Williams on Popp, the referee signalled for a penalty. Babett Peter confidently converted it to give the Germany Women the victory.
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