Spain U19 team fought until the end and managed to beat Germany U19 with goals from Pablo García, Tommy Marqués and Jan Virgili.
2025 UEFA U19 Championship
6-5
Match Report
The Spanish National Team took the field with clear ideas and with the ambition to win. In the early stages of the match, Alejandro Monserrate had the first goal of this semifinal. However, the midfielder's shot went over the crossbar. After the hydration break, the German team went up a gear. Mala got unmarked on the flank finding a perfect pass into the box for Moerstedt who pushed the ball into the back of the net.
The opponent's goal did not sink Spain. Paco Gallardo's team got up and continued fighting. Antonio Cordero came close to equalizing from eleven meters. However, the German goalkeeper guessed the side and saved the shot. Despite the adversity and the result against, the Spanish National Team was aware that there was a lot of game left after the break.
Óscar Marcos had the equalizer in his boots, but his shot went just wide of the left post. Whoever follows it gets it and that's how it was for the Spanish team. From a corner kick, in the most spectacular way possible, the equalizer came. An Olympic goal by Pablo García made it 1-1. The chances of the Spaniards increased with the second in their boots. A shot by Cuenca went over the goal line, but ended up not going in after hitting the post.
A good recovery and German ball exit caused a counterattack that ended in a goal. Mala was the author of this second goal in the final stretch of the match. When all seemed lost, Pablo García once again put on the hero's cape to the epic.After a corner, yes again from a set piece, the rebound fell to the winger who scored with a shot close to the goalkeeper's right post. A goal that came in the 91st minute and that would not be the last of the match.
It seemed impossible, but for this team nothing is impossible. On the limit, in the 95th minute, the winning goal came. A spectacular shot by, who else, Pablo García from the area that went into the back of the German goal. If with this result the match seemed close, nothing could be further from the truth. An unfortunate action, in the last play, ended with Cuenca's own goal.
Regulation time came to the end with everything to be decided. Pablo García, already in extra time, tried a direct free-kick with a shot that ended up being repelled by the post. The rebound fell to Tomás Marqués who sent the ball into the back of the net. The Germans did not give up either and, after a good save from Raúl Jiménez, the rebound fell to Moerstedt who headed the ball into the back of the net.
In the second half of extra time, Germany took the lead again on the scoreboard with Moerstedt's hat-trick. Moments later, Izan Merino responded with a great shot from outside the area that hit the crossbar. In the 113th minute, Jan Virgili went down the left flank at speed and converted his shot, under the goalkeeper's legs, into the fifth for the Spaniards. A through ball from Jan Virgili to Pablo García became his particular poker and the winning goal for Spain.
Line-ups
Spain U19 XI: Dani Muñoz, Izan Merino, Raúl Jiménez, Alexis Olmedo, Andrés Cuenca, Jon Martín, Omar Janneh, Antoñito Cordero, Jano Monserrate, Pablo García, Óscar Marcos
Subs: Alejandro Granados, Dani Díaz, Peio Huestamendia, Simón García, Jofre Torrents, Quim Junyent, Tommy Marqués, Jan Virgili, Gonzalo Pastor
Germany U19 XI: Paris Brunner, Kabar, Konstantin Heide, Winners Osawe, Mateo Kritzer, Assan Ouédraogo, Max Moerstedt, Leopold Wurm, Maximilian Herwerth, Said El Mala, Taylan Bulut
Subs: Max Schmitt, Robert Ramsak, Maximilian Hennig, Lukas Reich, Jarzinho Malanga