Germany defeated Austria 2-0 in Brentford this evening as they secured their place in the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 semi-finals.
Austria put in a solid performance and went toe-to-toe with Germany for much of the match but their inability to convert any of their chances, combined with some strong German pressure on their goal, resulted in the favourites going through.
The early part of the game was fairly evenly matched with Julia Hickelsberger-Füller forcing a fairly easy save from German keeper Merle Frohms and Alexandra Popp blasting over the Austrian bar. Austria should have taken the lead after 12 minutes but Marina Georgieva could only head the ball onto the post from one of a string of corners.
Irene Fuhrmann’s side seemed to be in the ascendency but the opening goal came against the run of play with 24 minutes gone in the first half. With the German forward line putting pressure on Arsenal’s Manuela Zinsberger, the keeper’s clearance went straight to Klara Bühl who burst past centre-back Carina Wenninger into the box and she then pulled the ball back for Lina Magull to fire home.
Germany could have had a second goal before half-time but Zinsberger managed to get her shin in the way at the near post to clear the danger.
Early in the second half, Frohms made a great save, bravely coming out and collecting the ball at the feet of the oncoming Austrian attack. Moments later, Barbara Dunst took advantage of a poor clearance from Frohms and she hit the bar from the edge of the penalty area. A few minutes later, Sarah Puntigam then hit the German post with her second shot in quick succession, Austria once again unable to take advantage of a strong passage of play.
Germany had their chances too, Bühl hit the bar with just over 20 minutes to go and with her last kick of the game, she should have secured the win but pulled her shot wide at the back post.
It was the constant pressure on Zinsberger that was to secure that semi-final berth for Germany. When Popp closed in on the goalkeeper as she took a kick, she got her leg in the way of the ball and it bounced back into the Austrian goal. With less than a minute left in normal time, Germany had secured progression.
Austria will reflect on a good campaign but a lack of goals has been a problem for them throughout and tonight, they succumbed to pressure on their goalkeeper which appeared to be a game plan from the Germans. Germany will wait to find out who they will face on Wednesday night with the possibility of an England final still alive.