Photo: DFB Frauen Twitter
An entertaining affair took place at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion in Kaiserslautern as Germany took on current Nations League champions Spain in the first leg of the final.
Germany started the game superbly, having an effort by the in-form Klara Buhl saved by goalkeeper Cata Coll, which would be just a shadow of what was to come from Germany’s attack. Spain held out defensively well throughout an extended period of German pressure before eventually conceding a corner which nearly proved costly.
As the ball flew through the air, it was flicked onto the glancing head of Manchester City centre back Rebecca Knaak at the back post, who made contact perfectly, with the shot destined for the top right. Coll got across quickly, and a remarkable claw off the line saw the best chance of the first half cleared away by the World Champions.
Both teams went into the break locked at horns at 0-0. However, it was the Germans who had ruffled the feathers in the half; despite having less possession, they had 7 total shots, and an impressive 5 of those were recorded on target as Coll became the Spanish saviour, arguably keeping them in the game, as well as a lovely goal line clearance from experienced defender Paredes.
Spain came out of the blocks flying in the second half and had a shot clip the post in which Ann Katrin Berger could only watch; this would turn out to be only one of Spain’s only three shots on target during the entire game. However, Germany quickly got themselves back on top very quickly, creating several chances of their own.
Klara Buhl had the best opportunity of the game in the 70th minute after latching onto a pass from Franziska Kett; she completed a mazy run before unleashing a shot from outside the box, evading defenders and leaving Coll rooted to the spot as the ball ricocheted off the post and back into play, leaving everyone baffled as to how no team had scored in the first leg of this Nations League final.
The game began to peter out after that; however, it felt like there might be one final chance in the game. That chance fell to debutant Shekiera Martinez; after a misplaced pass from Coll found its way to her feet, she attempted to chip the ball into the open goal. Unfortunately, a slip cost her the opportunity, as the ball spun well wide as the final whistle blew seconds later, leaving it all to play for in the second leg on Tuesday at 5:30PM (BST).
Lineups:
GERMANY: Berger, Gwinn, Minge, Knaak, Kett, Senss (Hendrich), Nusken, Cerci (Sehitler), Brand, Buhl, Anyomi (Martinez)
Subs: Sehitler (Cerci), Martinez (Anyomi), Hendrich (Senss), Mahmutovic, Johannes, Schulze-Solano, Linder, Freigang, Grawe, Zicai, Dallman
SPAIN: Coll, Battle, Paredes, Leon (Mendez), Carmona, Putellas, Aleixandri, Bonmati (Del Castillo), Pina, Mariona, Gonzalez (Imade)
Subs: Navarro (Pina), Mendez (Leon), Del Castillo (Bonmati), Imade (Gonzalez), Nanclares, Astralaga, Fernandez. Ouahabi, Serrajordi, Hermoso, Redondo, Lopez
Yellow Cards:
Laia Aleixandri ‘18’
Jule Brand ‘69’
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