Youthful Germany squeeze past Aussies

Video ref in focus, Chile win

SOCHI, Russia, June 19, (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 on Monday in Sochi.

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.

The Socceroos then had a string of late chances to equalise, but Germany held out.

Australia next face Cameroon, who lost 2-0 to Chile in their opening game, in Saint Petersburg on Thursday with both teams needing a win in their bid to reach the semifinals.

Much had been made before kickoff of Germany bringing a young squad and their starting line-up had just 138 international appearances between them.

The arrival of the world champions in Sochi failed to excite local

Portugal’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo (left), vies with Mexico’s defender Hector Moreno (center), during the 2017 Confederations Cup Group A football match between Portugal and Mexico at the Kazan Arena in Kazan on June 18. (AFP)