The German women’s national team also won their second World Cup qualifying match. Lea Schüller excelled in the 5:1 win against Serbia with four goals within 28 minutes.
The DFB team had expected a “different calibre” than in the 7:0 win over Bulgaria in the qualifying opener in Cottbus – and even if they could have done without it, they were immediately vindicated: Already in the 3rd minute, the 16-year-old Serbian striker Matejic got past Lattwein too easily and, alone in front of Frohms, ensured Germany’s early deficit.
First period interrupted for five minutes – DFB team erratic
Federal coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg had changed her team in two positions, bringing on Lattwein and Brand for Kleinherne and Lohmann, but saw her team face some problems. Serbia’s targeted midfield pressing took the space away from Däbritz and Marozsan, who hardly had a chance to develop – and when they did, the DFB team often finished their attacks sloppily.
The only DFB goals worth mentioning in the first half, which was interrupted for five minutes due to the “substitution” of a lineswoman because of health problems, were scored by Marozsan from long range (28th) and Brand with a diving ball (42nd). Serbia were even more dangerous, playing purposefully through the centre time and again and seriously testing Frohms twice in the person of Matejic and Cankovic (both 32nd).
Germany as if changed: Schüller scores four
After a sobering first half from Germany’s point of view, the German team came out of the break as if transformed in terms of playfulness – and turned the game around within a few minutes. First, the German team benefited from a curious misunderstanding in the Serbian defence after a beautiful move. After a Magull shot was saved by Kostic, Blagojevic was able to clear the ball without any problems, but relied on her goalkeeper and shot at the pursuing Schüller – 1:1 (49th).
Shortly afterwards, the German team made a much greater effort to score the next goal: After a Serbian standard situation, the DFB team launched a textbook counterattack, Schüller headed in Brand’s fine cross and scored a brace (54).
The contrast to the first half was striking, only Germany played – and with a lot of drive towards the goal. Serbia’s goalkeeper Kostic was under constant fire, making great saves against Brand (52nd, 63rd) and Schüller’s side-footed shot (70th), but was beaten by the now omnipresent German striker shortly afterwards: after a corner, the ball fell at Schüller’s feet and the 23-year-old scored the treble (71st). But that was not all: against Serbia, who were now falling apart, Schüller added goal number four with a wonderful header after a Huth cross (77th).
Leupolz sets up the impressive finish
The fifth and final German goal was not scored by the goal-scorer herself, but she did provide the assist: After Schüller’s forward pass in midfield, Leupolz, who had come on as a substitute just a few minutes earlier, sent the ball into the top right corner (79th) for a final score of 5:1.
The DFB women continue their World Cup qualifying campaign in October with two matches against Israel – first away on 21.10., then at home on 26.10. In November, they face Turkey (H) and Portugal (A).
