At the end of the year, the DFB women lost the second friendly in the USA. The vice European champions only convinced in the first round. The game was marred by Lena Oberdorf’s injury.
The German soccer players had to admit defeat to the host world champions in the second test match on their trip to the USA. Three days after the 2-1 win in Fort Lauderdale, the Vice European Champions lost 2-1 (1-0) to the Americans in Harrison near New York on Sunday evening.
The strong Jule Brand from VfL Wolfsburg scored in the 18th minute in front of 26,317 spectators. Sophia Smith and Mallory Pugh then turned the game around within two minutes with their goals (54th/56th).
Lena Oberdorf injured her shoulder
The game for the initially very safe DFB women was marred by the injury to Lena Oberdorf. The Wolfsburg defensive midfielder, who was so important, had to be substituted after 33 minutes and received an ice pack on her injured shoulder.
Except for four players, Voss-Tecklenburg changed their starting XI to control the load. And so goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger played her fourth international match in the first half. After the European Championships in England, the 32-year-old made it public that her thyroid cancer had returned. After radioiodine therapy, she’s been back on the pitch for a long time – and she’s now listening to the national anthem with a happy face.
Berger with fourth international match
Berger didn’t get much to do: The Americans around Alex Morgan (200th international match) showed an unremarkable first half. While first-choice goalkeeper Merle Frohms from VfL Wolfsburg took a break, Almuth Schult from Angel City FC was between the posts after the break, as announced.
Bayern professional Lina Magull missed the big chance to make it 2-0 after the change. Shortly thereafter, Smith gave Schult no chance with a shot under the bar. At 1: 2, Frankfurt’s Nicole Anyomi and Sjoeke Nüsken did not look good. The second round clearly belonged to the Americans.
Schult prevents 1:3
The high tempo then took its toll, concentration and strength dwindled in the DFB selection – the frenetically cheered hosts gave further courage. Schult prevented an even greater defeat with a strong save against Pugh (77th).
For the DFB women, the two friendlies are already in preparation for the World Cup from July 20 to August 20, 2023 in Australia and New Zealand. There, Germany meets Morocco, Colombia and South Korea in the preliminary round.