After their recent defeat at home against Greece, Germany’s U21 national team narrowly avoided the next severe blow to their necks. Antonio di Salvo’s team were lucky to win 2-1 (0-1) against Northern Ireland in Belfast on Tuesday evening and turned the game around within four minutes in the final phase.
Ruairi McConville shocked the Germans early on with his header to make it 1-0. In the final phase, coach Antonio di Salvo’s men turned the game around and secured a lucky victory thanks to a penalty. Assan Ouédraogo equalized (78th), Dzenan Pejcinovic scored from the spot (83rd). In Group F of qualifying for the 2027 European Championship, the German team moved up to second place.
Sluggish DFB selection
Northern Ireland seemed to completely surprise Antonio di Salvo’s selection with its playing system. The hosts put Germany under enormous pressure with high pressing and won a corner after just 13 seconds.
While the corner didn’t yield anything, it took less than three minutes for the first bell to ring in the German box. Centre-back Ruairi McConville took a corner from Jamie Donley from the left with perfect timing to the left of the penalty spot and placed the ball unstoppable into the crease on the right.
First shot on goal in minute 24
The DFB team found it extremely difficult to gain space against the Northern Irish, who defended intelligently and stably. Many advances came to nothing when trying to get through the middle to the opponent’s star area; little happened in terms of deep runs or attacks from the outside. The first shot on goal was achieved by Tom Bischoff, who posed no problems for keeper Stephen McMullan with a long-range shot from a good 25 meters. A little later, Tom Rothe headed a free kick well to the left of the box.
Aseko with an important rescue act
The fact that Germany did not react well and quickly to those who were always waiting for good transition moments was shown, for example, shortly before the break: Patrick Kelly was able to sprint towards the German goalkeeper Dennis Seimen almost unchallenged. Seimen shortened the angle and clearly cleared the attacker’s low shot. However, the ball deflected to right-back Shea Kearney, who beat the keeper with an arc. Luckily, Noel Aseko had anticipated the situation and rushed to the goal line, where he confidently prevented the home side’s second goal with his head.
DFB team more stable after the break
At the beginning of the second 45 minutes, the German team appeared more stable. By shifting the game to the wing positions, the DFB team occasionally created dangerous situations. But Nicolo Tresoldi (46th) and Tim Drexler (49th) did not finish dangerously.
A strong ten minutes is enough for Germany
But then the DFB players came close to equalizing: Nelson Weiper scored an offside goal (55th) and was denied several times by the Northern Irish goalkeeper Stephen McMullan. When di Salvo started to take the hapless Said El Mala out of the game in the 64th minute and brought more offensive power into his team for the defenders Lukas Ullrich and Aseko, the game turned around.
First, Assan Ouedraogo used a top cross from Tom Bischoff from the left halffield, and a little later Ilyas Insah took a hand penalty with a nice start from the left, which Pecinovic used well placed down the left.
The next games will take place on November 14th (against Malta) and November 18th (in Georgia).