Germany’s class shone through as they saw off a resilient Austria to claim their place in the semi-finals of Euro 2022 in front of 16,000 supporters at Brentford.
Lina Magull’s first-half effort gave Die Nationalelf the lead and Alexandra Popp added an unconventional second in added-time as Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side sealed their spot in the final four where they will meet either Netherlands or France on Wednesday.
Austria – the tournament’s surprise package – will count themselves mightily unfortunate, however, as they were denied by the woodwork three times as they desperately tried to breach a Germany defence that has yet to concede a goal in the tournament.
The early signs looked ominous for Germany as Austria went desperately close to opening the scoring in the 13th minute. Their defence was caught napping as Marina Georgieva wriggled away from her marker to meet Verena Hanshaw’s corner delivery with a powerful header, but Germany were bailed out by the upright.
Germany soon wrestled the initiative back and, after forcing an error, made it pay with their first shot on target as Magull opened the scoring in the 25th minute. Their high-press proved effective as Klara Buhl won the ball from Laura Wienroither down the left flank before pulling it back for Popp who cleverly left it for Magull to slot it home.
The woodwork was left shaking twice in the first 10 minutes of the second half – at opposite ends of the pitch. Giulia Gwinn made an untracked run into the penalty area to meet Buhl’s left-flank cross but her shot struck the outside of the post. Moments later, Germany goalkeeper Merle Frohms made amends for a poor clearance to tip Barbara Dunst’s attempted lob onto the crossbar to keep her clean sheet intact.
Austria may have sensed it wasn’t going to be their night when they hit the woodwork for the third time as Sarah Puntigam struck the bottom of the post after Germany failed to clear a corner delivery, but they continued to throw everything at their neighbours – without reward.
As their opponents tired, Germany exposed the space left in midfield and at the back, and after Buhl missed a guilt-edged chance, they eventually sealed the deal when Popp blocked goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger’s attempted clearance, with the ball bouncing into the back of the net to finally end Austria’s fairy-tale.
