Germany’s women lifted the Algarve Cup for the third time after an impressive performance against the world champions. The European champions completed a 3-0 victory in the final against Japan in Faro with a particularly strong second-half performance to win the “Mini World Cup” again after previous triumphs in 2006 and 2012.
Silvia Neid’s team prevailed thanks to goals from substitute Nadine Keßler, who scored with her first touch in the 46th minute, Anja Mittag four minutes later, and Dzsenifer Marozsan in the 61st minute. Germany managed four wins in four games in the 21st edition of the tournament, and their consistently strong performances have once again raised hopes of successful World Cup campaign in Canada in 15 months’ time.
A frantic first half
In front of 600 fans at the Estádio Algarve in Faro, Neid continued to experiment with her team, making five changes to the side that beat Norway 3-1 two days earlier. In goal, Nadine Angerer was replaced by her designated successor Almuth Schult as previously agreed.
Algarve Cup Finale: Deutschland vs.Japan
Although Germany created more chances in a fast-paced first half, they were lucky not to fall behind after a strange incident in the 28th minute, when Josephine Henning and Schult both got their bodies on the goal line to block Nahomi Kawasumi’s shot. At the other end, Celia Sasic headed just over the Japanese goal in the 38th minute in Germany’s best chance of the half.
Anja Mittag scores a stunning goal
Germany took the lead barely 40 seconds after the restart, when substitute Keßler fired the ball home from the edge of the penalty area. Just four minutes later, Mittag doubled her team’s lead with a stunning goal, backheeling Fatmire Alushi’s pass into the net. Japan appeared to be rattled as Germany continued to press forward. With an hour of the match gone, Marozsan’s 20-metre shot gave the European champions an unassailable lead.
The anticipation and preparations for the final were marred by Leonie Maier’s serious knee injury the previous day. The 21-year-old Bayern defender suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in her right knee during training and returned to the team’s Ria Park base near Munich on the morning of the final.
As a result, Maier will miss Germany’s upcoming qualifiers for the 2015 Women’s World Cup. The first match is an encounter with Ireland on 5 April (live on ZDF from 16:00 CET), before a second game against Slovenia in Mannheim five days later (live on ARD from 18:00 CET). The two-time world champions are currently well on course for Canada, with five wins from five matches and a goal tally of 40 goals with none yet conceded.
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Germany’s women lifted the Algarve Cup for the third time after an impressive performance against the world champions. The European champions completed a 3-0 victory in the final against Japan in Faro with a particularly strong second-half performance to win the “Mini World Cup” again after previous triumphs in 2006 and 2012.
Silvia Neid’s team prevailed thanks to goals from substitute Nadine Keßler, who scored with her first touch in the 46th minute, Anja Mittag four minutes later, and Dzsenifer Marozsan in the 61st minute. Germany managed four wins in four games in the 21st edition of the tournament, and their consistently strong performances have once again raised hopes of successful World Cup campaign in Canada in 15 months’ time.
A frantic first half
In front of 600 fans at the Estádio Algarve in Faro, Neid continued to experiment with her team, making five changes to the side that beat Norway 3-1 two days earlier. In goal, Nadine Angerer was replaced by her designated successor Almuth Schult as previously agreed.
Algarve Cup Finale: Deutschland vs.Japan
Although Germany created more chances in a fast-paced first half, they were lucky not to fall behind after a strange incident in the 28th minute, when Josephine Henning and Schult both got their bodies on the goal line to block Nahomi Kawasumi’s shot. At the other end, Celia Sasic headed just over the Japanese goal in the 38th minute in Germany’s best chance of the half.
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Anja Mittag scores a stunning goal
Germany took the lead barely 40 seconds after the restart, when substitute Keßler fired the ball home from the edge of the penalty area. Just four minutes later, Mittag doubled her team’s lead with a stunning goal, backheeling Fatmire Alushi’s pass into the net. Japan appeared to be rattled as Germany continued to press forward. With an hour of the match gone, Marozsan’s 20-metre shot gave the European champions an unassailable lead.
The anticipation and preparations for the final were marred by Leonie Maier’s serious knee injury the previous day. The 21-year-old Bayern defender suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in her right knee during training and returned to the team’s Ria Park base near Munich on the morning of the final.
As a result, Maier will miss Germany’s upcoming qualifiers for the 2015 Women’s World Cup. The first match is an encounter with Ireland on 5 April (live on ZDF from 16:00 CET), before a second game against Slovenia in Mannheim five days later (live on ARD from 18:00 CET). The two-time world champions are currently well on course for Canada, with five wins from five matches and a goal tally of 40 goals with none yet conceded.
