🚨 Penalty shootout drama: Germany reach the Euro semi-finals | OneFootball

Germany is in the semifinals! Although the DFB women were down to ten players since the 13th minute, coach Christian Wück’s team fought their way to the penalty shootout and managed to defeat the French.

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The match started right away with a very special incident. After about twelve minutes, referee Tess Olofsson was suddenly called to the VAR monitor by the video assistant. The reason: Kathrin Hendrich had pulled Griedge Mbock’s hair during a harmless free kick. The Swedish referee immediately decided on a red card and a penalty for France. Grace Geyoro converted it with a bit of luck to make it 1-0.

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But in the 25th minute, the Germans struck back. After a corner to the near post, Sjoeke Nüsken headed the DFB women back into the game. Although the French continued to press, truly dangerous chances were lacking for both sides until halftime.

That was about to change after the break. In the 57th minute, the ball was in the German net again. After a world-class save by Ann-Kathrin Berger, the ball landed at the feet of Grace Geyoro, who was able to slot it in from close range on the left. But once again, the video assistant intervened.

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The reason: After Berger’s save, France’s Lakrar actively went for the ball from an offside position and thus became involved in the play. Referee Olofsson rightly called offside and disallowed the goal.

In the 68th minute, cheers echoed through St. Jakob Park. After a foul by Bacha on Jule Brand, the referee pointed to the spot. But the cheers of the traveling German fans were soon silenced again. Sjoeke Nüsken stepped up to take the penalty and was denied by France’s keeper Peyraud-Magnin.

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In a fiercely contested final phase, neither team could find a breakthrough. Due to inaccuracies in the final pass or finish, neither the French nor the Germans were truly dangerous again. After eight minutes of added time, both teams went to the locker rooms to catch their breath before extra time.

And here, Ann-Kathrin Berger would immortalize herself once again in the 103rd minute. After a failed headed clearance that looped toward the goal, the goalkeeper sprinted back and made a spectacular diving save on the line.

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The rest of extra time was pure battle. The German women threw themselves at every ball, while the French, despite their long numerical advantage, could not develop the necessary punch and were a bit unlucky in the end. In stoppage time, Malard hit the crossbar for France from about 30 meters. The match would be decided as dramatically as possible: by a penalty shootout.

Germany got to start. Janina Minge was first up and scored to make it 1-0. The outstanding Ann-Kathrin Berger saved the first French penalty from Amel Majri. Linda Dallmann took the second for Germany and spectacularly blasted the ball into the top corner. Sakina Karchaoui then scored to make it 2-1.

But the DFB women continued to show nerves of steel. Rebecca Knaak made it 3-1, before Melvine Malard converted for France to make it 3-2. Then came a setback for the German national players. Sara Däbritz hit the fourth penalty against the crossbar – Sandy Baltimore equalized at 3-3.

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Ann-Kathrin Berger, Oriane Jean-François, Klara Bühl, and Melween N'Dongala all converted their penalties as well. Then it was Sjoeke Nüsken’s turn. After missing her penalty in regular time, the Chelsea midfielder scored to put Germany ahead again. France’s Alice Sombath had to step up next. And once again, Ann-Kathrin Berger was there. The woman for whom superlatives are running out saved the penalty and sealed the win. Germany is in the semifinals against Spain.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

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