World champion Germany hung on to beat Australia on Monday in their Confederations Cup opener, 3-2. In Group B play, Germany led after just five minutes and the Aussies battled back, but Germany took all three points with Leon Goretzka's goal early in the second half.
Here's how it went down:
Germany led 1-0 after five minutes through Lars Stindl, who finished superbly inside the box:
That didn't take long!
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 19, 2017
Lars Stindl gets his first goal for Germany to put them up 1-0. @Powerade #ConfedCup #AUSGER https://t.co/FnthflNsUG
But Australia pulled level on 41 minutes, with Tomas Rogic finishing well at the top of the box off a deflection:
Rogic got some help from Leno to (very briefly) equalize for Australia. @Powerade #AUSGER #ConfedCup https://t.co/3X5wLAhUPF
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 19, 2017
After Germany retook the lead three minutes later through a penalty kick goal from Julian Draxler, the Europeans grabbed the winner on 48 minutes through this effort from Goretzka.
Perfect precision from Joshua Kimmich gives Goretzka his first international goal! @Powerade #AUSGER #ConfedCup https://t.co/T1ZBIkxat9
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 19, 2017
In the end, a youthful squad from Germany did just enough but got more of a fight from the Aussies than they thought. The result gives Germany three points in Group B, second behind Chile on goal differential. As for Australia, they're going to have to get a result against Chile and New Zealand to have a chance to move on.
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