It took Germany just four second-half minutes to find the equaliser as Lohmann headed in from close range from a Nüsken corner. The Germans deserved to be level and they almost took the lead two minutes later when Nüsken shot wide after some brilliant play from 16-year-old striker Karen Sneve.
Norway offered little going forward in the second-half and Lohmann almost gave Germany the lead from another dangerous Nüsken corner. Sneve saved a shot from Kössler and Anyomi and Andrea Brunner had unsuccessful attempts from distance.
Norway were relieved to make it to penalties and the format ‘A, B, B, A’ was used to order the takers. UEFA is testing this method for the first time in this tournament, whereby the first penalty is taken by one team, then the next two by the other, then the next two by the team which took the first, and so on.
The Germany U17s team has reached the final of the European Championship. Anouschka Bernhard’s team overcame Norway 3-2 on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw. Olaug Tvedten put the Norwegians into the lead in the seventh minute before Sydney Lohmann equalised just after half-time.
The Germans had their backs to the wall early on in the penalty shootout. Verena Wieder and Gianna Rackow saw their penalties saved by Karen Sneve, Lohmann hit the left-hand post. Germany’s goalkeeper Stina Johannes saved from Thea Bjelde and Vilde Birkeli, but Malin Sunde and Tvedten put Norway 2-0 in front in the shootout. Melissa Kössler made it 2-1 and Sjoeke Nueske levelled it at 2-2 before Johannes turned Sjoeke Björnebö’s penalty onto the post. The match was decided when Johannes saved from My Haugland and Andrea Brunner held her nerve to put Germany into the final.
Lohmann: “An unbelievable feeling”
“We’re really pleased that we’re in the final after such a tight contest,” said Bernhard. “However, you have to say that it would have been very unjust if we hadn’t got through. All Norway did was defend.” The young Germans were delighted with the result. “It’s great that we won. That was a class performance from Stina (Johannes). I’m proud of the team, because we believed in ourselves and never gave up,” said captain Lohmann. Penalty saving heroin Johannes added, “It’s an unbelievable feeling. We’ve worked so hard and we’re excited to be in the final.”
The final will be on Sunday (18:30 CEST live on Eurosport) against Spain. This is a repeat of last year’s final which Germany won 3-2 on penalties. The two sides last met in the first preliminary round nine days ago when the Germans ran out 4-1 winners.
Bernhard: “We wanted to avoid conceding an early goal”
The young Germans put themselves under early pressure in Pribram. In the seventh minute, Jenny Kristine Rosholm Olsen headed the ball into Olaug Tvedten’s path and she put Norway into the lead. “We wanted to avoid conceding an early goal because we knew that Norway are very strong defensively and it would be difficult. The goal came from a long throw-in and that can’t happen. We spoke about that before the game.”
Germany overcame the shock of the early goal quickly and took control of the game. A cross from Verena Wieder hit the bar in the tenth minute. Nine minutes later Melissa Kössler’s cross evaded Nicole Anyomi in the penalty box and then Sjoeke Nüsken’s shot went wide of the goal.
Bernhard: “Too much down the middle in the first-half”
Norway offered very little in attack. However, Olsen nearly made it 2-0 on the counter. Maren Tellenbröker failed to clear her lines at the back for Germany and the Norwegians hit the post in the 31st minute.
“It was a very close battle,” said Bernhard. “We tried to go down the middle too much in the first-half. It was better in the second-half as we went down the wings more often, but still didn’t create too many clear chances. Norway made a defensive change in the 56th minute and went to five at the back. That made it very difficult for us.“
Lohmann heads in equaliser
It took Germany just four second-half minutes to find the equaliser as Lohmann headed in from close range from a Nüsken corner. The Germans deserved to be level and they almost took the lead two minutes later when Nüsken shot wide after some brilliant play from 16-year-old striker Karen Sneve.
Norway offered little going forward in the second-half and Lohmann almost gave Germany the lead from another dangerous Nüsken corner. Sneve saved a shot from Kössler and Anyomi and Andrea Brunner had unsuccessful attempts from distance.
Norway were relieved to make it to penalties and the format ‘A, B, B, A’ was used to order the takers. UEFA is testing this method for the first time in this tournament, whereby the first penalty is taken by one team, then the next two by the other, then the next two by the team which took the first, and so on.
