Moukoko brace in 4 minutes: German U21s only effective late against Kosovo

Victory to start the European Championship qualification

Thanks to double packer Youssoufa Moukoko, Germany’s U21 national team started qualifying for the next tournament with the hoped-for success a good two months after the European Championship debacle. Borussia Dortmund’s attacking talent led Antonio Di Salvo’s selection to victory on Tuesday in a 3-0 (0-0) win in Kosovo with two goals (74th/78th minute). The third goal was scored by Colin Kleine-Beckel from Kiel (89th). The German Football Association team completely dominated the game against defensive hosts, but initially missed their best chances to take the long-overdue lead.

With Moukoko, one of three professionals in the squad who had already been in the squad for the disappointing preliminary round exit at the European Championship in the summer scored. The 18-year-old, like the entire team in Georgia, had played a weak tournament, but now increased his impressive goal quota with goals number seven and eight in the eighth U21 game.

The U21s continue in October with the qualifying double pack away against Bulgaria and the highly rated Israelis. Other opponents are Poland and Estonia. Only the group winner is guaranteed to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Slovakia.

The expected game developed in Pristina: outsiders Kosovo defended deeply with a five-man chain, Germany controlled the game. The guests repeatedly combined forward with deep passes. But the precision was still missing for a significant finish. On the other hand, the selection of Kosovo rarely showed the “gambler mentality” expected by Di Salvo. The outsider mostly remained harmless up front.

The newly formed German U21s used the start of the season to warm up with a 2-0 win against Ukraine last Friday. But everything didn’t go smoothly in the first competitive game. The best opportunities came from standard situations: Fürth’s Tim Lemperle aimed too high from close range after a corner (32′).

Germany pushed hard for the lead after the break. Moukoko hit the side netting (47th). Lemperle’s shot after a nice through ball from Dortmund was deflected onto the post, Merlin Röhl put the follow-up shot next to the goal (50th).

The game developed more and more into a game of patience. The hosts, who defended extremely hard at times, hardly provided any relief at all. In the final phase it was Moukoko who made the difference: the striker scored impressively with a shot from a corner and after a feint from close range.

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