Goretzka’s quick double sets Germany on way to final vs Chile

SOCHI (Reuters) – Germany’s Leon Goretzka scored two expertly-taken goals in the opening eight minutes to set his side on the way to a 4-1 win over Mexico in their Confederations Cup semi-finals on Thursday.

Timo Werner added the third just before the hour as Germany’s young, experimental team took advantage of the wide open spaces in the Mexico defense and punished it with ruthless finishing.

Mexico’s Marco Fabian pulled a goal back with a spectacular, swerving strike in the 89th minute, but Amin Younis hit a fourth for Germany during stoppage time in an end-to-end game.

The Mexicans had lots of possession, but failed to take their chances and always looked vulnerable at the back. Germany, whose starting team had an average age of just under 24, will meet Chile in Sunday’s final in St. Petersburg.

Late Wednesday, Claudio Bravo saved three successive penalties to give the Chileans a 3-0 shootout win over Portugal after their semifinal had ended goalless.

Bravo stopped Portugal’s first three spot kicks from Ricardo Quaresma, Joao Moutinho and Nani while Chile converted its first three to win the clash of South American and European champs.

That meant that Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who usually goes last in the shootout, did not get to take a kick, as was the case when Portugal lost to Spain on penalties in the Euro 2012 semifinals.

The result was justice for Chile after it hit the woodwork with two successive shots in the dying seconds of extra time.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos pointed out that the same three players who missed on Wednesday all took penalties and converted when his side beat Poland in the Euro 2016 quarters.

“On that occasion, they were heroes,” he said. GERMANY MIDFIELDER Leon Goretzka scores his side’s (and his own) second goal past Mexico ’keeper Guillermo Ochoa in the first half of the Germans’ 4-1 victory over the Mexicans in last night’s Confederations Cup semifinal in Sochi, Russia.