A third win in as many games for the Germany national team in their World Cup 2018 qualification campaign. Early goals from Julian Draxler and Sami Khedira set the World Cup holders on the road to victory, as Die Mannschaft beat Northern Ireland 2-0.
Joachim Löw’s side took flew out of the blocks and took immediate control of the game in Hannover, applying pressure deep in the Northern Ireland half. Mario Götze tested Michael McGovern’s goal with a header early on, but the breakthrough came in the 13th minute when Draxler fired low into the bottom corner to put Germany 1-0 up.
Khedira heads in to double lead
The home side were not content with just the one goal and it took just four minutes before McGovern fetched the ball out of the back of his net for a second time. Mats Hummels flicked on from a corner and Khedira headed in at the far post to double the lead. If the visitors were disheartened by the early setback, it certainly didn’t show and it wasn’t long before they were testing Manuel Neuer at the other end. Jamie Ward got the better of Jerome Boateng, but his strike on goal was way too central to beat the World Goalkeeper of the Year.
It was end-to-end stuff as the opening 45 minutes drew to a close; Draxler’s attempt from the edge was cleared off the line, before Josh Megennis was afforded too much space to test Neuer at the near post. Oliver Norwood’s free kick on the stroke of half time, meanwhile, flew inches over the Germany goal.
Gündogan with an almost instant impact
The second half saw Ilkay Gündogan introduced for Mesut Özil and he almost made an instant impact – his stunning effort blocked at the last second. Germany took charge of the match once more and peppered the Northern Irish defence with a barrage of attacks, but the third goal continued to elude Löw’s men. Götze saw another headed effort cleared, before Khedira fired just wide. The Juventus midfielder let loose from long range late on, but in the end he and Die Mannschaft will have been happy to settle for a 2-0 win against a spirited Northern Ireland.
A third win in as many games for the Germany national team in their World Cup 2018 qualification campaign. Early goals from Julian Draxler and Sami Khedira set the World Cup holders on the road to victory, as Die Mannschaft beat Northern Ireland 2-0.
Joachim Löw’s side took flew out of the blocks and took immediate control of the game in Hannover, applying pressure deep in the Northern Ireland half. Mario Götze tested Michael McGovern’s goal with a header early on, but the breakthrough came in the 13th minute when Draxler fired low into the bottom corner to put Germany 1-0 up.
Khedira heads in to double lead
The home side were not content with just the one goal and it took just four minutes before McGovern fetched the ball out of the back of his net for a second time. Mats Hummels flicked on from a corner and Khedira headed in at the far post to double the lead. If the visitors were disheartened by the early setback, it certainly didn’t show and it wasn’t long before they were testing Manuel Neuer at the other end. Jamie Ward got the better of Jerome Boateng, but his strike on goal was way too central to beat the World Goalkeeper of the Year.
It was end-to-end stuff as the opening 45 minutes drew to a close; Draxler’s attempt from the edge was cleared off the line, before Josh Megennis was afforded too much space to test Neuer at the near post. Oliver Norwood’s free kick on the stroke of half time, meanwhile, flew inches over the Germany goal.
Gündogan with an almost instant impact
The second half saw Ilkay Gündogan introduced for Mesut Özil and he almost made an instant impact – his stunning effort blocked at the last second. Germany took charge of the match once more and peppered the Northern Irish defence with a barrage of attacks, but the third goal continued to elude Löw’s men. Götze saw another headed effort cleared, before Khedira fired just wide. The Juventus midfielder let loose from long range late on, but in the end he and Die Mannschaft will have been happy to settle for a 2-0 win against a spirited Northern Ireland.
