Germany holds on to beat Ukraine for 1st Nations League win

Germany finally won a Nations League game at the seventh attempt on Saturday, holding on to beat Ukraine 2-1 to ease the pressure growing on coach Joachim Löw.

Defender Matthias Ginter and midfielder Leon Gortezka scored to give Löw’s team its first win in Group 4 of League A, its first of the year, and coming after three games including the friendly against Turkey in which it squandered leads to draw.

A late penalty from Ruslan Malinovskyi ensured another nervy ending, but a Ukraine side depleted by coronavirus cases and injuries was unable to draw level. Andriy Shevchenko’s side was thrashed by France 7-1 in their friendly on Wednesday.

After drawing with Turkey 3-3 in Cologne the same day, Löw restored his regular players in Kyiv, building the team around the Bayern Munich “block” of Manuel Neuer, Niklas Süle, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry. Leipzig’s Lukas Klostermann and Marcel Halstenberg, and Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos also returned to the starting lineup.

None of them were involved in the opening goal, however, down to good work from defender Antonio Rüdiger, who beat his marker and crossed low for Ginter to convert at the far post in the 20th minute. Gnabry tried a back-heel but failed to connect fully before the ball reached Ginter.

It was far from convincing from the visitors, who remained prone to mistakes under pressure from the home side.

A miscued back-pass from Ginter would likely have been punished by Shevchenko in his prime, but the Milan great, now the Ukraine coach, could urge his makeshift team only from the sideline.

Heorhiy Bushchan produced a fine save to stop a dipping shot from Kimmich, then a header from Gnabry, though Germany’s mistakes in buildup play continued.

A mistake from Bushchan gifted the visitors their second goal in the 49th. Klostermann’s cross was simple for the goalkeeper to gather, but he dropped the ball for the grateful Goretzka to head in.

Süle conceded a penalty with a mistimed challenge on Roman Yaremchuk, and Malinovskyi converted from the spot to give the hosts hope in the 77th.

This time, Germany held on.

Image credits: AP