A first-half goal fest gave Steffi Jones’ Germany side victory in her second home match in charge as the Olympic champions overcame the Netherlands 4-2 at the Aalener Scholz-Arena. Mandy Islacker dominated with goals in the 22nd and 27th minute, while Anja Mittag and Tabea Kemme found the target in the 40th and 44th minute respectively. While Sherida Spitse had pulled one back for the Dutch with a 38th minute strike, the hosts went into half-time with a commanding 4-1 lead. Vivianne Miedema scored an 88th minute consolation for the away side but it finished 4-2 to the Germans.
“I’m pleased that my chosen line-up paid off today and that we enjoyed our football,” said Jones. “We looked very comfortable but we made some errors after the break due to poor passing. On the one hand I was able to rectify that with our substitutions, but on the other hand fatigue also started to kick in. These are small things that we need to cut out.”
Islacker given chance in starting XI
Islacker found herself with a goalscoring opportunity as early as early as the third minute and Anna Blässe saw her effort from a corner cleared off the line in the 14th minute, while Islacker’s second attempt on goal just fizzled past the Dutch post in the 20th minute.
However it was with her third effort that Islacker finally hit the jackpot following some immaculate service into the box from Dzsenifer Marozsán, allowing the forward to fire the Germans into a 1-0 lead. The team’s new captain needed just five more minutes to set up yet another Islacker goal. However this time it was not intentional as Marozsán’s shot on the turn from 20 metres out rattled off the crossbar and landed straight at the 1. FFC Frankfurt midfielder’s feet for an easy finish.
It took the Dutch 37 minutes to threaten the Germany goal and after a quick counter, Danielle van de Donk was left free in the German penalty area and was brought down by Blässe. Spitse stepped up and made no mistake, reducing her side’s deficit to just one goal.
Mittag scores and sets one up
The away team was not able to celebrate their goal for long as Mittag quickly restored the home side’s two-goal cushion with a great strike from distance in the 40th minute. The striker was also involved in Germany’s fourth goal, with Kemme netting in with a volley from her pinpoint cross in the 44th minute.
Things noticeably calmed down in the second half but Germany remained largely in control. Goalkeeper Almuth Schult was only really tested on one occasion, reacting superbly to save after a one-on-one with Renée Slegers. At the other end, Leonie Maier and Sara Däbritz tried their luck from distance, whilst Däbritz saw yet another effort fly just over the bar. Vivianne Miedema provided the final action of the match with an 88th minute goal for the Netherlands but the match ended 4-2 to the hosts.
A first-half goal fest gave Steffi Jones’ Germany side victory in her second home match in charge as the Olympic champions overcame the Netherlands 4-2 at the Aalener Scholz-Arena. Mandy Islacker dominated with goals in the 22nd and 27th minute, while Anja Mittag and Tabea Kemme found the target in the 40th and 44th minute respectively. While Sherida Spitse had pulled one back for the Dutch with a 38th minute strike, the hosts went into half-time with a commanding 4-1 lead. Vivianne Miedema scored an 88th minute consolation for the away side but it finished 4-2 to the Germans.
“I’m pleased that my chosen line-up paid off today and that we enjoyed our football,” said Jones. “We looked very comfortable but we made some errors after the break due to poor passing. On the one hand I was able to rectify that with our substitutions, but on the other hand fatigue also started to kick in. These are small things that we need to cut out.”
Islacker given chance in starting XI
Islacker found herself with a goalscoring opportunity as early as early as the third minute and Anna Blässe saw her effort from a corner cleared off the line in the 14th minute, while Islacker’s second attempt on goal just fizzled past the Dutch post in the 20th minute.
However it was with her third effort that Islacker finally hit the jackpot following some immaculate service into the box from Dzsenifer Marozsán, allowing the forward to fire the Germans into a 1-0 lead. The team’s new captain needed just five more minutes to set up yet another Islacker goal. However this time it was not intentional as Marozsán’s shot on the turn from 20 metres out rattled off the crossbar and landed straight at the 1. FFC Frankfurt midfielder’s feet for an easy finish.
It took the Dutch 37 minutes to threaten the Germany goal and after a quick counter, Danielle van de Donk was left free in the German penalty area and was brought down by Blässe. Spitse stepped up and made no mistake, reducing her side’s deficit to just one goal.
Mittag scores and sets one up
The away team was not able to celebrate their goal for long as Mittag quickly restored the home side’s two-goal cushion with a great strike from distance in the 40th minute. The striker was also involved in Germany’s fourth goal, with Kemme netting in with a volley from her pinpoint cross in the 44th minute.
Things noticeably calmed down in the second half but Germany remained largely in control. Goalkeeper Almuth Schult was only really tested on one occasion, reacting superbly to save after a one-on-one with Renée Slegers. At the other end, Leonie Maier and Sara Däbritz tried their luck from distance, whilst Däbritz saw yet another effort fly just over the bar. Vivianne Miedema provided the final action of the match with an 88th minute goal for the Netherlands but the match ended 4-2 to the hosts.
