Sport

Undav scored twice from the bench to help Germany come from behind to beat Ivory Coast

The four-time winners endured a frustrating outing after going behind to a 30th-minute goal from Ivory Coast captain Franck Kessie but Julian Nagelsmann turned to his bench in search of a response – and Undav delivered emphatically with a second-half double.

After having two goals disallowed in the first half on Saturday, Germany did not lose ⁠focus and used intricate passing to find their way, while the West Africans produced their dynamic brand of attacking football in a wild Group E clash.

Ivory Coast had opened the scoring in the 30th minute of first half when Franck Kessie slotted home a rebound off a shot by Amad Diallo on a play created when Yan Diomande charged down the left side and sent in ⁠a cross.

The Germans had the ball in the back of the net twice through Aleksandar Pavlovic’s header from a corner and another through Kai Harvert but was both ruled off for fouls in the build up in the first half.

With his side trailing 1-0, Nagelsmann made a triple change in the 60th minute, bringing on Jamie Leweling, Amiri and Undav – with the latter duo combining for the equaliser only eight minutes later. 

Undav then struck a second to take his tally to nine goals in just 11 appearances for Germany and make his case for a starting spot again, helping his side put embarrassing group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022 behind them.



.

Please follow and like us: