Youthful Germany squeeze past Australia with 3-2 win in opener at Sochi
German players celebrate a goal against Australia during the Confederations Cup match in Sochi, Russia yesterday. Pic/AFP
A youthful Germany side weathered a second-half fightback by Australia to open their Confederations Cup campaign with a 3-2 win over the Socceroos at Sochi yesterday.
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Goals by Lars Stindl and Leon Goretzka, either side of a penalty by Julian Draxler, saw Germany home to leave them second in Group B behind Chile, who they face in Kazan on Thursday. Celtic midfielder Tommy Rogic had made it 1-1 in the first half and Tomi Juric added Australia’s second after the break from a goal that was allowed to stand despite a suggestion of handball leading to a review from the video assistant referee.
Tomi Juric scores one of the Australia's goals vs Germany
Socceroos surge
The Socceroos then had a string of late chances to equalise, but Germany held out. Australia next face Cameroon in Saint Petersburg on Thursday with both teams needing a win in their bid to reach the semi-finals.
Fans not excited
Much had been made before kick-off of Germany bringing a young squad and their starting line-up had just 138 international appearances between them.
The arrival of the world champions failed to excite local fans and only 28,605 of the Fisht Stadium's available 47,700 seats were filled.
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