Argentina came from two goals down to draw with Germany in an international friendly on Wednesday evening.
Serge Gnabry took his domestic form onto the international stage in Dortmund as he stabbed home the opener in just the 15th minute. Joachim Low’s men then doubled their advantage through Kai Havertz only seven minutes later. Substitute Lucas Alario pulled one back for Argentina in the second-half with a fantastic header before Lucas Ocampos hit the equaliser with only minutes remaining to earn a draw come the final whistle.
Gnabry on the scoresheet once again
Despite a quiet start to the game, Germany took control of the game from their visitors mid-way through the first-half with Julian Brandt almost opening the scoring but he could only shoot straight at Agustín Marchesín.
The goal did eventually come however and Gnabry continued his blistering form as he was picked out by a good cross from Lukas Klostermann. The Bayern Munich man took the ball away from a clutch of defenders and coolly prodded the ball into the net on the spin.
He then played a key role in the hosts’ second as a quick-counter saw them break up the field. Gnabry crossed to Havertz who had time and space to sweep into the net.
German dominance
The Germans were extremely comfortable throughout the opening period and twice spurned opportunities to extend their lead as Brandt just failed to get on the end of Joshua Kimmich’s free-kick. Marcel Halstenberg then went even closer as his great free-kick cannoned off of the crossbar.
Argentina did eventually create a chance and it was almost out of nothing as Rodrigo De Paul found space on the edge of the area and also struck the woodwork with a beautiful strike.
The irrepressible Gnabry also almost notched his second just before the break but put his volley just wide of the Argentina goal.
Argentina finally get a foothold
The second-half was not as straight-forward for the hosts but former Liverpool man Emre Can should have stretched the lead but saw his low effort saved by Marchesin.
Argentina did eventually get on the scoresheet though and it was substitute Alario that halved the deficit. The Bayer Leverkusen man produced an absolutely brilliant header to dispatch Marcos Acuña’s into the far corner of the Germany net.
Ocampos strikes equaliser
Argentina’s performance continued to improve throughout the second period. The momentum swing finally bore fruit for Lionel Sebastián Scaloni’s troops. Another substitute, Ocampos, was the man to draw the visitors level as he was played in by Alario and beat Marc-Andre Ter Stegen at his near post to see the game end all square in Dortmund.
Final Thoughts
Germany will be thinking how it is possible that they drew this game. They were by far the better side in the opening period and deservedly led following goals from the impressive Havertz and Gnabry. However, they completely took their foot off of the gas in the second-half and gifted Argentina a route back into the game. On reflection, the visitors were worthy of at least a point on the night.
Match Report
Germany: Ter Stegen (6); Halstenberg (6), Klostermann (7), Sule (7), Koch (6); Kimmich (7); Gnabry (8) (Serdar (6), 72′), Can (6), Havertz (7) (Rudy (N/A), 83′), Brandt (7) (Amiri (6), 66′); Waldschmidt (6).
Argentina: Marchesin (6); Tagliafico (6), Rojo (6) (Ocampos (7), 46′), Otamendi (6), Foyth (6); Maksimovic (6), De Paul (7) (Rodriguez (N/A), 90+3′); Correa (5) (Acuna (7), 46′), Dybala (4) (Alario (8), 62′), Pereyra (6) (Saravia (N/A), 76′); Martinez (5).
Goals: Gnabry (15′), Havertz (22′), Alario (66′)
Referee: Clement Turpin
Yellow Cards: Kimmich (12′), Otamendi (26′), De Paul (30′), Ocampos (84′)
Red Cards: N/A
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