2023 FIFA U-23 WC: Germany beat spirited USA in Bandung thriller
Bandung, Indonesia (PANA) - Bilal Yalcinkaya hit an 87th-minute winner as Germany beat USA 3-2 in a breathless Round of 16 clash in Bandung on Tuesday.
USA twice came from behind to level before the substitute’s dramatic late intervention. The Germans will face Spain in the quarter-finals on Friday.
European champions, Germany, opened the scoring in spectacular fashion on 14 minutes, with Charles Herrmann curling in a wonderful free-kick.
The Americans recovered well from that early blow and soon equalised after 10 minutes through Taha Habroune. After seizing on a loose ball, the Columbus Crew player was coolness personified to control with his left foot and fire in with his right.
Back came Germany, though, and they went back in front in style after 34 minutes. Full-back Eric Da Silva Moreira was the architect, making a weaving run forward before feeding Hermann, who cut the ball back for Max Moerstedt to slot home.
USA dug deep into their reserves of resilience and self-belief to fight back again in the second half. Their second equaliser came on 80 minutes, with David Vasquez’s teasing low free-kick evading everyone stationed in the Germany box – including goalkeeper Max Schmitt – and nestling in the bottom corner of the net.
The drama was not over, though, and Germany struck the decisive blow when substitute Yalcinkaya drove forward and slammed a shot home at the near post.
-0- PANA MA 21Nov2023
