UEFA EURO 2017: Penalty precision earns repeat win and top spot for Germans
Ten months later the outcome was repeated, albeit not by the same margin, as Germany won 2-0 in Utrecht to overtake Sweden at the top of Group B and thus secure a quarter-final clash with Denmark.
The Sbornaja finished third in the group behind Germany and Sweden and were eliminated after a mediocre game by two penalties.
Defender Babett Peter scored the opener in the 10th minute while captain Dzsenifer Marozsan extended the lead 11 minutes into the second half.
Russian coach Elena Fomina put her faith in the same line-up as for the previous defeat by Sweden while Jones made four changes, bringing Lena Goessling into defence for the first time since November.
Germany made the better start and had their supporters cheering inside the opening minutes. But it was only a short-lived celebration since Mandy Islacker had been flagged offside before she shot low into the net.
The Germans continued to push forward and a shot from outside the penalty box by midfielder Sara Doorsoun-Khajeh was parried by Russian goalkeeper Tatyana Shcherbak. As Islacker tried to reach the rebound she was fouled and, as in the Germans’ previous game against Italy, Peter scored from the penalty.
Russia produced a rare chance when Elena Danilowa tested Almuth Schult but Germany remained superior though most of their shots skidded wide across the wet grass.
After half an hour Peter saw a header tipped on to the crossbar from Shcherbak then Sara Däbritz missed a chance to increase the lead on an assist from Goessling before Anja Mittag ‘scored’ after a corner only to be ruled offside.
There was no change in the second half. Germany enjoyed significantly more possession but could not create clear chances. Thus a penalty was necessary once again to bring the second goal.
Margarita Chernomyrdina fouled Däbritz and captain Marozsan gave the Russian goalkeeper no chance.
##################
