Germany ended Euro 2020 qualifying on a high as they came from behind to thrash Northern Ireland and clinch top spot in Group C.
2020 EURO qualification
6-1
Match Reports
Serge Gnabry scored a hat-trick as Germany rallied to humble Northern Ireland 6-1 in Euro 2020 qualifying and secure top spot in Group C.
Michael Smith had given Northern Ireland a shock early lead on Tuesday, however Germany hit back in emphatic fashion with Leon Goretzka also grabbing a brace for the hosts before Julian Brandt's injury-time strike.
Gnabry's treble took his tally for 2019-20 to 14 goals for club and country as his fine start to the campaign continued with another clinical display.
Group C stadings
Match Events
7' GOAL! Germany 0-1 Northern Ireland (Smith)
The visitors score with their first attack of the game and what a strike it is from Smith, to fire the ball past Ter Stegen and into the back of the net. Saville crosses the ball into the box after Magennis wins a throw-in deep inside the Germany half. Kroos heads the ball away to the edge of the area and Smith meets it on the volley, drilling it into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.
9' CLOSE! Gnabry misses a golden chance!
Peacock-Farrell with a superb stop to deny Gnabry from close range. Kroos delivers a terrific chipped ball into the box to Gnabry, who controls it and then just had the keeper to beat, but Peacock-Farrell is quickly off his line and makes himself as big as possible, blocking the effort
10' CLOSE! Gundogan hits the post
Kroos once again pulling the strings in midfield for the hosts, he squares the ball into the penalty area, looking for Gundogan, but his strike hits the post and then bounces dangerously around the box, before the Irish finally clear the danger.
19' GOAL! Germany 1-1 Northern Ireland (Gnabry)
Wonderful turn and finish by Gnabry, making the Germany pressure count and they are back into the game. Hector gets to the byline, he drags the ball back to Gnabry, who turns and then drills the ball into the top right-hand corner of the net, out of the reach of Peacock-Farrell.
43' GOAL! Germany 2-1 Northern Ireland (Goretzka)
Goretzka with the goal, getting in the right place at the right time. Hector gets in behind Smith down the left after a lovely cross by Kroos, the left-back then drills the ball into the box, which Gnabry misses, but Goretzka pokes it home from close range. The ball strikes the post, just out of the reach of Peacock-Farrell and then trickles over the line.
47' GOAL! Germany 3-1 Northern Ireland (Gnabry)
Kimmich chips a terrific ball to Klostermann down the right wing, who then pulls it back to Gnabry, who fires the ball into the bottom corner. Perfect finish.
60' GOAL! Germany 4-1 Northern Ireland (Gnabry)
Brandt plays a quick ball into the feet of Gnabry, who holds off Cathcart, turns and then slides the ball into the far corner of the net from a tight angle.
73' GOAL! Germany 5-1 Northern Ireland (Goretzka)
Goretzka with his second goal of the game and what a strike it is. Kroos tries to feed the striker, but it's blocked by a couple of Northern Ireland defenders, before falling to Goretzka on the edge of the penalty area, who fires a first-time strike at goal and it flies straight into the bottom left-hand corner.
91' GOAL! Germany 6-1 Northern Ireland (Brandt)
The winger drifts out wide and then cuts inside as he receives the ball over the top by Kroos and he beats Flanagan, before smashing the ball into the top right-hand corner of the net. Peacock-Farrell had no chance of saving that.
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