Germany Clinch First Nations League Victory
11 October, 2020
UEFA Nations League
Result: Ukraine 1-2 Germany
Date: 10 October 2020
Venue: NSK Olimpijs'kyj
Germany registered their first UEFA Nations League win this campaign after overcoming Ukraine on Saturday evening.
Antonio Rudiger and Julian Draxler were the only two players to keep their place from the clash with Turkey on Wednesday night.
After a comparatively slow start, the 2014 world champions found the opening goal on 20 minutes as Rudiger collected a pass from Niklas Sule before selecting Matthias Ginter for the easy finish in the box.
The visitors almost bagged another goal ten minutes later but Joshua Kimmich saw his dipping striker turned away by Heorhiy Bushchan's fingertips.
Bushchan was certainly the difference between your two sides in the first half, with the Ukraine shot-stopper creating another to keep out Serge Gnarby's header.
The Ukraine goalkeeper then went from hero to villain soon after the break as Bushchan dropped a cross right into the path of Leon Goretzka, who made no mistake from close range.
The hosts were handed a lifeline in the 76th minute when the referee pointed to the penalty spot after Sule's foul on Roman Yaremchuk, which allowed Ruslan Malinovskiy to convert from 12 yards.
The penalty proved to be Ukraine's final real sight at goal in the ultimate stages of the second half as Marlos saw his long-range strike with time added on saved by Manuel Neuer, handing Germany their first win in the group.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za