Germany takes a narrow advantage out of the first leg of its UEFA Women’s Nations League semifinals matchup against France after a late Klara Bühl strike secured a 1-0 result in Düsseldorf.
Bühl’s strike
broke a streak of wasted German chances starting from near the opening whistle, when Carlotta Wamser found herself in space enough to whip a cross for Nicole Anyomi right in front of goal. Anyomi hit it straight at the keeper, and it would prove to be not even her best squandered chance. Whether it was Bühl failing to fin Jule Brand running central or Sjoeke Nüsken getting into great shooting positions only to connect softly, Germany did not seem to have their shooting boots on.
That profligacy nearly squandered what was a solid advantage in the balance of play. Christian Wück’s side fashioned seven big chances to France’s one, per Sofascore, and repeatedly found ways to slip an attacking player behind the French lines — Bayern Munich’s Franziska Kett finding particular joy down the left hand side but wanting for a teammate to supply to finishing touch. VfL Wolfsburg keeper Stina Johannes had to be resolute defending her box on a couple of occasions too, to prevent the game from turning completely on its head.
Finally in the 79th minute, Nüsken, from a central attacking position in midfield, found Bühl with another cross-field ball to stretch the French flanks. This time Bühl took matters into her own hands, cutting in from the left and then ripping off her shot from well outside the box. It had the accuracy — and the ferocity — to blaze past Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, and it proved to be decisive.
The 1-0 advantage is a narrow one, but Germany will take it heading into Tuesday’s second leg in France. Awaiting the winner probably will be Spain, defending EURO champions, who demolished Sweden 4-0 today.
Highlights available on the DFB channel on YouTube.
