Germany overcome late COVID-19 crisis to dominate Australia
Germany beat Olympic-bound Australia in Wiesbaden despite four players being forced into COVID-19 quarantine shortly before kickoff. There were big performances from some new faces.
Germany delivered a big win against Australia despite positive COVID-19 tests in the squad earlier in the day
Germany 5-2 Australia,
(Nüsken 11 , Hendrich 48 , Brand 63 , Freigang 65 , Dallmann 90+1 Gielnik 82 , 90+2 )
Germany’s clash against Australia was meant to be an opportunity for the hosts to measure their mettle against another top side. Instead, increasingly common COVID-19 complications forced fresh faces to step up in Wiesbaden.
Lina Magull impressed in Wiesbaden Coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg will have been pleased with her side s display
Germany women convincingly beat Australia
In their third international game of 2021, Germany women defeated Australia 5-2. Sjoeke Nüsken opened the scoring in just her second game (11’), before Kathy Hendrich doubled the lead (48’). Debutant Jule Brand (62’), Laura Freigang (64’) and Linda Dallmann (91’) added further goals to secure an impressive win in Wiesbaden.
Preparations for the clash with the ‘Matildas’ were far from ideal for Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side. Friday’s PCR tests of all players and staff came back on Saturday morning. Felicitas Rauch tested positive and, along with the three players who were in close contact with her – Lena Oberdorf, Sara Doorsoun and Svenja Huth – had to isolate and therefore missed the game.
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It was an inauspicious return to the pitch for Australia s women s national team as the Matildas were dominated by Germany in a 5-2 loss in which only a late brace from Emily Gielnik added some respectability to the scoreline.
Key points:
Emily Gielnik scored a late brace for the Matildas
They will next play the Netherlands in three days time
Captained by Sam Kerr, the national team were playing their first friendly since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and they looked like they needed the hit out.
Germany, who are ranked number two in the world, did not and put the Matildas to the sword with clinical if not typical efficiency.
We need to pick it up. It was difficult. New players, new coach, a lot of people haven t played at international level . We ve got to learn from it.
Swede Gustavsson was also acquainted with the tough job ahead, admitting: We need this reality check. We need to see where we re at right now. Is it tough? Yes, but we need that toughness to know exactly what we need to do to prepare for the Olympics.
His side were lucky just to only be one goal down at halftime to Sjoeke Nusken s 10th-minute strike, having at that point not had a single attempt on goal themselves.
Matildas stumble to 5-2 loss in first pre-Olympics hit-out theroar.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theroar.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.