Moukoko nets hat trick as German U21s power past Bulgaria
Quality performances from Dortmund attackers Youssoufa Moukoko and Karm Adeyemi - along with some luck - enabled the German U21s to prevail over Bulgaria 3-2 in Sofia on Friday night.
In what will be the sole Germany U21 match of the current international break (a 2025 UEFA U21 European Championship qualifier against Israel has been cancelled due to the recent terrorist activity) Antonio di Salvo's squad have won their third consecutive match since last summer's disappointing European group stage exit. The lads representing Germany's highest youth level topped the Bulgarian U21s 3-2 at the Stadion Aleksandar Shalamanov Stadium in Sofia.
Head-coach di Salvo made five changes to the XI that beat Kosovo 3-0 in the most recent qualifier over the last international break. Noah Atubolu returned to start over Jonas Ubrig in goal. Fullbacks Luca Netz and Leandro Morgalla replaced Linus Gechter and Nathaniel Brown. Robert Wagner replaced Eric Martel in midfield. Karim Adeyemi - spending the October international break with the U21s in hopes of breaking out of a form slump - took the place of Tim Lemperle. Di Salvo utilized a flexible 4-3-3, with Adeyemi and BVB teammate Youssoufa Moukoko taking turns on the front line alongside Eintracht Frankfurt's Ansgar Knauff and Hoffenheim sensation Maximilian Beier.
Di Salvo's Juniors were able to carve out some chances in the opening quarter-of-an-hour. Moukoko, Adeyemi, and SC Freiburg youngster Merlin Röhl were nevertheless not precise in their finishing. The Bulgarian youths allowed their German guests to enjoy most of the possession, lurking for opportunities on the counterattack and occasionally trying efforts from distance. The hosts nevertheless did demonstrate increasing courage and it didn't come as a total surprise to see them take the lead in the 25th. Attacker Stanislav Shoplov slotted home the 1-0 with a powerful finish from about 14 meters out.
The deficit woke di Salvi's side up. Adeyemi and Moukoko sniffed at the equalizer until the latter Dortmund player polished off the 1-1 in the 40th. Moukoko pulled off an excellent first touch after receiving a long ball from the subbed on Julian Eitschberger (on for the injured Morgalla) before supplying an equally strong finish from about ten meters out. The tied scoreline held as both teams headed in the dressing rooms. Moukoko was gifted a scorer's brace courtesy of a howler from keeper Plamen Andreev shortly after the restart.
Andreev let a soft effort from Moukoko slip through his legs in the 49th. Moukoko completed a hat trick - with some more blind luck - thirteen minutes later. This time Knauff somewhat inadvertently deflected a cross from Netz into Moukoko's path. The Dortmund phenom headed the 3-1 into an empty net. More slapstick in the Bulgarian penalty area nearly led to Beier netting a goal in the 75th. Adeyemi also found a strong effort saved in the 80th. Matters got slightly more interesting when the Bulgarian youths pulled a goal back at 90+3, but the Moukoko's triple proved enough in the end.