Undav the hometown hero as Germany strike late to defeat Ghana
| Photo: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images. |
With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, Germany extended their run to a seven-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory over Ghana this evening. Goals from Kai Havertz and local hero Deniz Undav gave fans at Stuttgart's MHP Arena plenty to cheer on the night.
Germany looked threating from the off as Kai Havertz drifted in behind to collect a Florian Wirtz pass. The cut-back fell to Nick Woltemade who curled his shot past the post. Havertz would strike the upright from a free-kick in their next significant attack.
The siege on Ghana's goal continued with both Nico Schlotterbeck and Jonathan Tah denied by some last-ditch defending. Soon, the heavens opened, giving way to torrential downpours. By this stage, the Ghanaians saw little of the ball but looked more settled at the back.
In a rare foray upfield for the Black Stars, Antoine Semenyo sent in a dangerous cross from the right which Joshua Kimmich dealt with. The hosts thought they had taken the lead past the half-hour mark, but Woltemade strayed offside prior to Wirtz's finish.
Battering away at the front door would soon reap rewards for the DFB-elf. A goal-bound shot from Angelo Stiller struck Jonas Adjetey's arm. VAR intervened and spotted the infringement, allowing Havertz to strut up to the spot and send Benjamin Asare the wrong way.
Starting the second-half, Julian Nagelsmann made a trio of changes as Antonio Rüdiger, Lennart Karl and the night's fan-favourite Deniz Undav replaced Tah, Gnabry and Havertz. Ghana sought an quick equaliser but Schlotterbeck kept out Adu's near-post effort.
At the opposite end, Woltemade's luckless night continued, directing Karl's delivery from the right onto the woodwork. With increased substitutions available, Germany called upon David Raum, Josha Vagnoman, Leon Goretzka and Chris Führich for the final third of the game.
However, a twist lay in the tale as Ghana struck for parity on the break. Derrick Köhn, of Union Berlin fame, skipper past Vagnoman and squared for substitute Abdul Fatawu who converted in the box. A smattering of Black Stars' supporters could hardly be contained.
Leroy Sané would replace Woltemade with 12 minutes remaining – a catalyst for the late turn in fortunes. Goretzka found the winger centrally, glancing his header on somewhat poetically for Undav, who lay waiting at the back post to net the match-winning goal.
