Germany 2-1 Saudi Arabia: World champions return to winning ways in unconvincing fashion
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ByEurosport
Updated 09/06/2018 at 17:23 GMT
International friendly, BayArena - Germany 2 (Werner 8', Hawsawi OG 43') Saudi Arabia 1 (Al Jassam 84')
Timo Werner of Germany celebrates the first goal for his team with his teammates during the International Friendly match between Germany and Saudi Arabia at BayArena on June 8
Image credit: Getty Images
Reigning world champions Germany laboured to an unconvincing victory in their final warm-up match before heading to Russia as Saudi Arabia were beaten 2-1 in Leverkusen on Friday night.
Joachim Low’s side had gone five games without a win stretching back to last October, but an eighth-minute strike from Timo Werner and an own goal from Omar Hawsawi just before the interval helped them return to winning ways at BayArena.
Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Abdullah Al Mayoof did well to keep out Julian Draxler’s venomous strike, while Julian Brandt spurned a good opening before a foul by Sami Khedira on Taisir Al-Jassim gave the visitors the chance to halve the deficit with seven minutes remaining.
Mohammed Al Sahlawi’s penalty was saved by the legs of substitute Marc-Andre Ter Stegen but Al Jassam was first to the rebound to fire into the roof of the net to set up a nervy conclusion. And the Green Falcons had a strong appeal for a second spot-kick waved by referee Slavko Vincic in injury-time despite Al Sahlawi appearing to have his shirt tugged by defender Hummels to deny him a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
The manner of their performance will leave Saudi Arabia manager Juan Antonio Pizzi with plenty of encouragement heading to the finals, but Joachim Low may be concerned by yet another disappointing display from his charges.
The Germany manager will be further incensed that Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan was jeered by his own supporters after coming on as a second-half substitute following a meeting with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
TALKING POINT
For the second consecutive World Cup warm-up match, Germany were well below-par.
Joachim Low’s side started the game in similar fashion to the 2-1 defeat to Austria last Saturday by grabbing an early goal, but again Die Mannschaft looked vulnerable in defence - even with key players Jerome Boateng and Mat Hummels returning to the fold - as they allowed their opponents back into the contest.
Germany could easily have been held to an embarrassing home draw tonight – a result which would have left them entering the World Cup on their worst run in 32 years - and based on this performance, and those before it, their Group F opponents Mexico, Sweden and South Korea will be encouraged that they can cause an upset against the heavyweights. If Low’s side are to retain their world crown, they have a lot of work to do.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Marco Reus (Germany): The Dortmund midfielder has given his manager a selection headache with an energetic and thoroughly impressive performance. The 29-year-old was central to the majority of German attacks, threading countless balls to team-mates, working the channels and providing the opening goal with a beautiful assist.
PLAYER RATINGS
Germany: Neuer 7; Kimmich 7, Hummels 6, Boateng 6, Hector 7; Kroos 7, Khedira 6; Reus 8, Muller 6, Draxler 5; Werner 7. Subs: Sule 6, Brandt 6, Gundogan 5, ter Stegen 6, Ginter 5, Gomez 6.
Saudi Arabia: Al-Mayoof 8; Shahrani 6, Osama Hawsawi 6, Omar Hawsawi 6, Al-Harbi 6; Ateef 6, Al Faraj 6; Al Shehri 6, Al Dawsari 7, Al Jassam 7; Al Muwallad 6. Subs: Bahebri N/A, Al Sahlawi 7, Al-Khaibri 5, Al Khaibari N/A, Al-Mogahwi 5. Boleahi 5.
KEY MOMENTS
8’ – GOAL! Germany 1-0 Saudi Arabia: Germany are ahead and well, you can't say it hasn't been coming. A direct ball from defence is beautifully controlled by Reus, he knocks it into the path of Werner who smashes his shot into the roof of the net from seven or eight yards out.
10’ - OFF THE POST! Beautiful technique from Reus whose first-time volley from the top of the box cannons off the foot of the post and bounces away to safety. The goalkeeper was beaten.
38’ - SAUDI ARABIA CHANCE! Germany have looked suspect in defence this evening and their back-line is caught napping as Al Dawsari gets down the left and crosses for Al-Muwallad whose first-time effort is sent crashing wide of Neuer's near-post.
43’ – GOAL! Germany 2-0 Saudi Arabia: This one will count! Werner is released on the flank, his low cross is missed by Muller but inadvertently turned in by Hawsawi at his near post.
61’ - SAUDI ARABIA CHANCE! Great close control by Al-Dossari as he creates space for a shot from the top of the box but then loses his composure as he screws his effort well wide of the goal.
76' - WIDE! Brandt almost scores with what must be his first touch! He is left unmarked at the back post to meet Gomez's cross but the ball bounces awkwardly in front of him and he shoots wide.
83' - PENALTY TO SAUDI ARABIA! Al-Jassim goes down inside the box under minimal contact from Khedira and the referee points to the spot!
84' - Germany 2-1 Saudi Arabia: Ter Stegen saves Al-Sahlawi's dreadful penalty but Al-Jassim is first to react as he pokes home from point-blank range.
90'+2 - PENALTY SHOUT FOR SAUDI ARABIA! Al-Jassim squares the ball to Al-Sahlawi with the goal-gaping but Hummels is there to make a crucial block... Saudia Arabia want a penalty, was Al-Sahlawi having his shirt tugged?! Play on says the referee!
KEY STATS
- It took four international matches for Germany to win their first game in 2018. The last time they needed four attempts for the first win in a calendar year was against Czech Republic in 2000 (1-0).
- Mario Gomez and Sami Khediara made their 75th international appearance for Germany.
- Marco Reus assisted his first goal for Germany since September 2013 when he set up a goal for Toni Kroos against Austria – which was 1,736 days ago.
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