An own goal by the US goalkeeper helps the European runners-up around Alexandra Popp to take the lead in Fort Lauderdale. Then the superstar of the scene compensates – and a returnee ensures victory.
The German soccer players have landed a victory in an intensive endurance test against the world champions from the USA. The team of national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg came on Thursday evening (local time) in Fort Lauderdale in front of 16,917 spectators to a 2: 1 (0: 0). The runners-up European champions were able to thank their strong goalkeeper Merle Frohms and then their American colleague Casey Murphy: the ball bounced off Murphy’s back after a shot by Klara Bühl in the 51st minute to make it 1-0. Substitute US star Megan Rapinoe equalized in the 85th minute, but Paulina Krumbiegel made it 1-1 (89th). It was the Americans’ first home defeat in more than five years – and after 71 games.
Voss-Tecklenburg had taken 26 players with him and announced that he would switch vigorously. The second test against the Americans is scheduled for Sunday (11:08 p.m. CET/sportschau.de) in Harrison/New Jersey. The national coach also hopes to gain important insights for preparing for the World Cup from July 20 to August 20, 2023 in Australia and New Zealand. Germany will play against Morocco, Colombia and South Korea in the preliminary round.
Hurricane “Nicole” had passed in Florida, so both teams were able to compete in the best conditions and 20 degrees. The DFB women came under more and more pressure in the course of the first half and only saved the 0-0 lead at the break with a lot of luck: the ball landed on the lower edge of the crossbar once and goalkeeper Frohms saved several times.
The USA had recently lost international matches against European champions England (1:2) and against Spain (0:2), but this time they convinced with strong physique and a lot of offensive drive. In the turbulent 51st minute, Lindsay Horan first hit the post from Frohm’s box, Bühl initiated the counterattack and also completed it with a shot at the post, which Murphy finally steered into his own goal. Substitute Krumbiegel, who suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in August 2021, made a promising comeback in the DFB jersey. The Hoffenheim attacker also provided noticeable relief. In the final sprint of the US team, their star Rapinoe put a lot of pressure on as a joker and equalized before Krumbiegel celebrated the winning goal.
