Goals from Lina Magull and Alexandra Popp fired Germany to a 2-0 Quarter-Final victory against Austria at 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro.
Germany dominated much of the opening half but a crucial cross from Klara Buhl found Magull to fire the eight-time champions ahead in the 25th minute.
Austria ultimately wasted several chances throughout both halves, which were punished in the 90th minute as Popp pounced on a poor goal kick from Manuela Zinsberger to flick in to wrap up victory and move Germany closer towards a ninth Women’s Euro title.
Germany will now face the winner of France’s Quarter-Final against Netherlands in a blockbuster second semi-final on Wednesday 27 July at Stadium MK, Milton Keynes.
A minute silence took place pre-match as both teams remembered former West Germany captain and Hamburg SV striker, Uwe Seeler who died today (21 July) aged 85.
Once the match got underway, Germany dominated with their high press but failed to create clear cut chances until Giulia Gwinn saw a seventh-minute cross, with the resulting corner saved by Manuela Zinsberger.
Julia Hickelsberger-Füller two minutes later saw her shot for Austria saved by Merle Frohms, before Popp went up the other end and fired over the bar just moments later.
Both teams continued to struggle to create clear-cut opportunities as Austria’s Marina Georgieva nodded a 13th minute corner onto the left post, which was consequently cleared for another set-piece which was also cleared by Germany.
The breakthrough chance however fell Germany’s way in the 25th minute as Zinsberger’s 50-yard kick was intercepted, with Buhl’s cross evading Popp which fell for Magull to fire in unmarked from close range to put the eight-time champions in front.
Austria attempted to respond in the 27th minute as Verena Hanshaw curled a strike across goal towards the top right corner, only for Frohms to save her shot.
Hickelsberger-Füller then broke forward in the 35th minute but dawdled too long on the ball, which led to her being dispossessed before she could unleash a strike on goal.
Zinsberger found herself in action again in the 43rd minute as Svenja Huth broke forward but the Arsenal goalkeeper blocked the German’s shot, whilst the consequential corner was headed wide as Germany finished the first half on top with a narrow one-goal lead.
Germany came back out after half-time and flew out of the trap as Gwinn fired wide off the left post from Buhl’s pullback pass just seconds following the restart.
Buhl then teed up Lena Oberdorf three minutes later but the latter saw her shot saved by Zinsberger, although Oberdorf then fired wide of the left corner just moments later.
Sarah Puntigam missed a 57th minute chance to equalise for Austria as her first shot from a corner kick was blocked, with her second attempt hitting the left post and rolled behind via deflection.
Popp and substitute, Linda Dallmann then missed numerous chances as Germany proceeded to dominate but Buhl missed their two best chances in the last half-hour, as the 21 year-old fired over the bar in the 78th minute then dragged a shot wide of bottom left corner four minutes later.
Austria though lacked the quality to break Germany down as Popp pounced on a 90th minute goal-kick from Zinsberger to flick into an empty net unmarked, which wrapped up victory as Germany reached the semi-finals for the tenth time in 11 UEFA Women Euro appearances.
Teams
Germany: Merle Frohms, Giulia Gwinn, Kathrin Hendrich, Marina Hegering, Felicitas Rauch, Lina Magull (Dallmann 64′), Lena Oberdorf, Sara Dabritz (Lattwein 64′), Svenja Huth, Alexandra Popp, Klara Buhl (Brand 83′)
Substitutes: Sophia Kleinherne, Lena Lattwein, Lea Schuller, Sydney Lohmann, Laura Freigang, Nicole Anyomi, Linda Dallmann, Tabea Wabmuth, Ann-Katrin Berger, Jule Brand, Sara Doorsoun
Austria: Manuela Zinsberger, Laura Wienroither, Carina Wenninger, Marina Georgieva, Verena Hanshaw, Sarah Puntigam (Höbinger 81′), Julia Hickelsberger-Füller (Naschenweng 72′), Sarah Zadrazil, Laura Feiersinger, Barbara Dunst, Nicole Billa (Makas 86′)
Substitutes: Katharina Naschenweng, Celina Degen, Annabel Schasching, Katharina Schiechtl, Viktoria Schnaderbeck, Virginia Kirchberger, Marie Höbinger, Jasmin Eder, Lisa Makas, Isabella Kresche, Stefanie Enzinger, Jasmin Pal
Referee: Rebecca Welch (England)
Attendance: 16,025
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