Germany stave off stubborn Guinea, qualify for Round of 16

KOCHI: Germany had to dig deep, but managed to clinch a 3-1 win over Guinea in their final Group CtieattheJawaharlalNehruStadium, sealing a place in the Round of 16 courtesy of finishing second in their group.

Goals from a Jann-Fiete Arp, Nicolas Kuehn and Sahverdi Cetin were enough for the Germanstonotchatightwinoverthe African side, who had equalised through right back Ibrahima Soumah midway through the firsthalf.Withthewin,Germany have set up a Round of 16 clash againstColombiainNewDelhion Monday. The European giants began the game well. Fiete-Arp was brought down by Guinea centre back Ismael Traore just outside the box in the very first minute of the game, earning the latter a yellow card.

The Germans continued to raid the Guinean half, and seven minuteslater,Traoremadeadis- astrouserrorwhenhisattempted clearancehitanopponentandfell into the path of Arp.Arp had enough time to adjust and finish past the goalkeeper as Germany tooka1-0lead.Guinearesponded well after conceding the early goal. In the 15th minute, forward Doss Soumah was well-positioned to take a shot, but his attemptwentwellwideofthetarget.Right back Ibrahima saw a long range effort of his in the 23rd minute go just wide of the bar.Twominuteslater,however, Guinea equalised. The German backline failed to clear a ball inside their half during an attack by their opponents. It fell to Ibrahima Soumah, who calmly fin- ished from close range.

Guinea piled on the pressure after equalising. Elhadj Bah’s attemptinthe32ndminute,when he turned and took a shot, was just wide of the goal. Nine minutes later, Doss Soumah failed to reach the end of a pass that was safelygrabbedbyGermancustodian Luca Plogmann.