LONDON — Germany remains on course for a ninth women’s European Championship title but were made to work hard for a 2-0 win over Austria to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2022.
France and the Netherlands meet in their quarter-final on Saturday.
Lina Magull’s first-half strike and a late goal from Alexandra Popp secured the win for Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s team and a place in the last four against France or the Netherlands Wednesday.
Germany, who sailed through the group stages, found it tough going at the Brentford Community Stadium against an Austria side who hit the woodwork three times.
Austria, who reached the last four at the 2017 Euros, started strongly and came close to opening the scoring in the 13th minute when Marina Georgieva rose to meet a corner but her header hit the outside of the post.
Germany took the lead in the 26th minute after a poor kick out by goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger was headed up to Klara Buhl who surged to the byline and cut it back for Popp who stepped over the ball, leaving it for Magull to sidefoot in.
Germany soon wrestled the initiative back and, after forcing an error, made it pay with their first shot on target as Magull opened the scoring in the 25th minute.
Their high-press proved effective as Klara Buhl won the ball from Laura Wienroither down the left flank before pulling it back for Popp who cleverly left it for Magull to slot it home.
The woodwork was left shaking twice in the first 10 minutes of the second half – at opposite ends of the pitch. Giulia Gwinn made an untracked run into the penalty area to meet Buhl’s left-flank cross but her shot struck the outside of the post.
Moments later, Germany goalkeeper Merle Frohms made amends for a poor clearance to tip Barbara Dunst’s attempted lob onto the crossbar to keep her clean sheet intact.
Austria may have sensed it wasn’t going to be their night when they hit the woodwork for the third time as Sarah Puntigam struck the bottom of the post after Germany failed to clear a corner delivery, but they continued to throw everything at their neighbours – without reward.
As their opponents tired, Germany exposed the space left in midfield and at the back, and after Buhl missed a guilt-edged chance, they eventually sealed the deal when Popp blocked goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger’s attempted clearance, with the ball bouncing into the back of the net to finally end Austria’s fairy-tale.
Austria fought back in the second half; forward Barbara Dunst hitting the bar with an audacious long-range shot. Sarah Puntigam also hit the post after her initial shot was blocked.
Germany soaked up the pressure and could have made the result safe in the 82nd minute but Buhl somehow missed a tap-in in front of an open goal.
She was not left to rue that miss as in the 90th minute Popp pressed keeper Zinsberger into hitting the ball against her and it ended up in the back of the net.
It was Popp’s fourth goal of the tournament, putting her second in the scoring charts behind England’s Beth Mead (five).
She also became the first player to score in four successive matches at a single edition of the Euros, the first the 31-year-old has played in having missed the previous two through injury.
Elsewhere, Ella Toone has spoken of England’s hope to spark further scenes of jubilation among fans and “keep making them proud” after they advanced to the Euro 2022 semi-finals.
The tournament hosts set up a last-four clash with Sweden or Belgium at Bramall Lane next Tuesday with a thrilling 2-1 extra-time victory over Spain at the Amex Stadium Wednesday night in which Sarina Wiegman’s side battled back from a goal down.
Substitute Toone’s 84th-minute equaliser, Georgia Stanway’s stunning winner six minutes into extra time and the final whistle prompted wild celebrations from the 28,994 crowd in attendance for a contest that was also watched by over nine million people via the BBC.
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