Spain grabs 1-1 draw in Germany as internationals resume

Spain defender Gaya scored deep into stopp time to salv a 1-1 draw against Germany as UEFA Nations League started without fans Thursday, ending a 10-month international break.

Valencia defender scored in sixth minute of injury to time to cancel out Timo Werner’s opening goal on his return to his hometown Stuttgart.

With international football returning for first time since outbreak of coronavirus pandemic, all 54 games that are scheduled to take place across continent over six days are taking place with strict hygiene measures, including exclusion of fans. Players had to pass mandatory pregame tests for COVID-19.

Werner, who was born in Stuttgart and went on to become club’s youngest scorer, gave Germany lead in 51st minute. He finished off a move started by a cross-field ball from Ilkay Gündoğan, with debutant Robin Gosens providing cross.

Barcelona winger Ansu Fati came on for second half to become Spain’s youngest debutant since Ángel Zubieta in 1936. 17-year-old had an injury-time equalizer ruled out for a foul by Sergio Ramos in buildup.

But re was still time for Rodrigo More to set up Gaya for equalizer, with defender converting from close range.

It was Spain’s first game with coach Luis Enrique back in charge following death of his 9-year-old daughter Xana due to a type of bone cancer in August 2019. Luis Enrique had stepped down for five months before returning in vember, when he couldn’t have foreseen such a long wait for his next game.

Germany coach Joachim Löw refrained from calling up most of his Bayern Munich contingent after y played in Champions League final on Aug. 23. Defender Niklas Süle was exception as he only recently returned from injury.

Gosens started on left to make his Germany debut after an unusual route to senior side. 26-year-old played in Nerlands before joining Atalanta in Italy and never played for any of Germany’s youth sides.

Also in same League A group, Ukraine defeated Switzerland 2-1.

Ireland captain Shane Duffy scored in injury time for a 1-1 draw at Bulgaria, while Wales beat Finland 1-0 in League B’s Group 4.

Russia defeated Serbia 3-1 and Hungary beat Turkey 1-0 away in ir group.

In League C, Moldova drew with Kosovo 1-1, and Slovenia and Greece played out a 0-0 draw.

Faeroe Islands earned a 3-2 win over fellow minw Malta in League D, where Latvia drew 0-0 against Andorra.

Im credits: AP