Europe: UEFA Nations League
FT
1 - 0
(0 - 0)
Germany
Netherlands
J. Leweling (64)
By Rune Gjerulff@runegjerulff

Leweling's debut goal sends Germany into Nations League quarter-finals

Jamie Leweling's debut goal earned Germany a 1-0 win over the Netherlands and a place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Nations League.
Photo: Adam Pretty/Getty Images

 

Germany booked their place in the last eight of the UEFA Nations League with a 1-0 win over the Netherlands at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Monday night.

Jamie Leweling, one of two German debutants alongside Oliver Baumann, scored the winner in the second half.

Julian Nagelsmann made five alterations from the team that beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-1 on Friday, with Baumann, Nico Schlotterbeck, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Angelo Stiller and Leweling replacing Alexander Nübel, Jonathan Tah, Pascal Gross, Robert Andrich and the injured Deniz Undav.

The visitors made two changes, with Jorrel Hato and Brian Brobbey replacing suspended captain Virgil van Dijk and Joshua Zirkzee.

In a very one-sided first half, Germany were sitting on possession and chances, and they thought they had made the perfect start when Jamie Leweling found the back of the net after just two minutes on his international debut.

Serge Gnabry won the ball from the Dutch defense and the ball fell to Leweling, who calmly found the back of the net. Their celebrations were cut short, however, as Gnabry was ruled to have been offside in the build-up following a VAR review.

The hosts continued to press, trying to break down the Dutch's build-up play, and Maximilian Mittelstädt came close in the 11th minute when he tested Bart Verbruggen in the Dutch goal.

Jamie Leweling had another great chance to score in the 28th minute after some quick combination play, but his effort towards the right post was blocked. Tim Kleindienst and Serge Gnabry also threatened, but Germany were unable to convert their chances into goals before the break.

 

The Netherlands started the second half on a better note, but Germany quickly regained the initiative and finally found the back of the net in the 63rd minute. After a corner, the ball fell to Leweling, who smashed the ball into the corner of the net for his debut goal.

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman responded with a series of substitutions in an attempt to find an equaliser, but Xavi Simons' shot against the crossbar and a powerful effort from Donyell Malen, which Baumann parried out for a corner, proved the closest the visitors came, as Germany held on for the win.

The win takes Germany to 10 points from four games in Group A3, meaning they're assured of a place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals with two games remaining.

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