South Africa v Germany

The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website | home

Germans Seal Top Spot With South African Triumph

by Jeremy Ruane

Germany confirmed a top-placed finish in their FIFA Women's World Cup Finals group at the Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier on June 17, sweeping aside South Africa 4-0 in front of 15,502 fans, who would have seen the perennial contenders win by a far greater margin but for the exploits of South African goalkeeper Andile Dlamini.

It took just three minutes for Banyana Banyana's number one to be called into action, snatching Sara Daebritz's close range effort after the midfielder had slid in in an attempt to turn home Lina Magull's free-kick.

Four minutes later, the in-form Daebritz executed a delightful piece of skill to evade a challenge, then accelerated clear of three more before lashing her twenty yarder just past the far post.

Germany's early pressure eventually paid dividends in the fourteenth minute when exciting midfield maestro Melanie Leupolz headed home Verena Schweers' corner, having been left completely unmarked by the South Africans six yards out from goal.

That sparked a rare South African raid in response, Nothando Vilakazi's solo charge culminating in her unleashing a long-range effort which rattled the near post side-netting.

Normal service soon resumed, with Klara Buehl picking out Magull with a cross which the midfielder turned into the stride of Daebritz. Her low drive was parried by Dlamini straight into the stride of Alexandra Popp, who couldn't believe her eyes as she scooped the ball over the bar from six yards with the goal at her mercy.

Three minutes later, Dlamini thwarted Daebritz at close quarters after Svenja Huth had made in-roads down the right, after which the Germans got a little sloppy, and nearly paid the price for doing so.

Marina Hegering allowed the ball to bounce, forcing her into a hurried back-pass which Almuth Schult cleared rather hastily, given the rate of knots at which Ode Fulutudilu was bearing down on her.

Germany's response was to double their lead, thanks to Dlamini. Buehl sent the overlapping figure of Schweers dashing down the left, but her cross was dreadful, and should have been easily dealt with by the goalkeeper. But Dlamini fumbled it badly, allowing Daebritz to say "Danke Schon" as she gleefully tucked the loose ball into an empty net.

Huth spurned a great chance to net a third goal ten minutes before the interval, Hegering having released Buehl with a super pass which gave her all the time in the world to deliver a quality cross.

Seconds later, Magull squandered a glorious opportunity, blazing the ball over the bar with just Dlamini to beat, having been played in by Buehl, who was among those celebrating five minutes before half-time as Popp powerfully headed home from eight yards, Sara Doorsoun and Daebritz having teamed up with Giulia Gwinn to set up the opening and all but settle the contest prior to the half-time whistle.

Germany continued to seek more goals after the interval. A solid block tackle by Lebohang Ramalepe thwarted Huth in the 49th minute, while Leupolz saw her looping header tipped over the bar by Dlamini six minutes later, after Magull and half-time substitute Carolin Simon worked a short corner routine to perfection.

The corner which resulted, taken by Simon, saw

Popp send another header flashing over the bar, but three minutes later, a free-kick by Simon brought greater reward. Hegering met the delivery with a diving header which Dlamini tipped onto the post, only to see Magull react quickest of all to tuck home the rebound - 4-0.

It was fast becoming an exercise in 'by how many', but Dlamini and company had other ideas. After Hegering went close with a volley from another Simon corner, Dlamini cut out a cross intended for the head of Popp, before the spirited efforts of Vilakazi and Noko Matlou kept the Germans at bay for a few more minutes.

Captain Janine Van Wyk's tackle foiled Magull twenty minutes from time, while Dlamini knew little about a Daebritz drive which struck the 'keeper seconds later, as Germany continued to pile on the pressure in search of more goals.

Van Wyk briefly turned her attention to the other end of the park in the 71st minute, unleashing a scorching forty yarder which only just missed hitting the crossbar of Schult's goal. Had that one gone in, the Goal of the Tournament contest was all over bar the shouting!

It would have been a very popular goal as well, so immense has been Van Wyk's contribution to the growth of South African football since the country began to embrace the women's game again after emerging from the abomination that was its apartheid regime.

Their captain's knock inspired some of Van Wyk's team-mates to see if they could alter the scoreline in the time remaining. Speedy substitute Thembi Kgatlana scooted through Germany's square defence to leave herself one-on-one with Schult, who blocked well in the 74th minute.

Six minutes later, Busisiwe Ndimeni was denied in the act of shooting by Gwinn's challenge, while three minutes from time, Rhoda Mulaudzi unleashed a volley on the turn past the far post upon receipt of Mamello Makhabane's measured pass.

All this was happening around a string of German opportunities, many of which foundered on the fearless Dlamini. She brilliantly foiled Daebritz in a one-on-one situation, then foiled Leupolz once more before the offside flag twice came to South Africa's rescue, ruling out goals by Popp and Gwinn.

Five minutes from time, Dlamini dashed out of her area to clear the danger posed by Magull's pursuit of a Daebritz through ball, while in the final minute the South African goalkeeper once again stood tall, thwarting substitute Lea Schueller with her legs after fellow substitute Laura Dallmann had made in-roads on the right.

South Africa head home from France 2019 having enchanted crowds wherever they played, winning many friends in the process. But as was expected, Germany progress from this group to the last sixteen - they have their eyes on the prize, one they seek for a third time.

Germany: Schult; Gwinn, Doorsoun, Hegering, Schweers (Simon, 46); Huth (Dallmann, 59), Leupolz, Magull (booked, 54); Buehl (Schueller, 66), Popp, Daebritz

South Africa: Dlamini; Ramalepe (booked, 53), Van Wyk, Matlou, Vilakazi (booked, 58); Mthandi (Kgatlana, 46), Biyana (Smeda, 89), Jane, Makhabane, Ndimeni; Fulutudili (Mulaudzi, 46 (booked, 66)

Referee: Sandra Braz (Portugal)

Group Matches