CHICAGO – In a thrilling friendly match on Saturday, Leroy Sané struck a decisive goal in the 57th minute, leading Germany to a 2-1 victory over the United States. This win marks Germany’s impressive ninth consecutive victory as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup.
The match began with an early goal from Kai Havertz, who headed the ball in from a well-executed free kick just two minutes into the game. However, the U.S. team quickly responded, with Antonee Robinson equalizing in the 37th minute. Robinson capitalized on a corner kick taken by Christian Pulisic, delivering a stunning left-foot volley from the edge of the penalty area.
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Sané’s tiebreaking goal came from a clever assist by Havertz, with Sané’s diagonal shot finding its way through the legs of defender Miles Robinson. The ball took a slight deflection, ultimately beating goalkeeper Matt Freese to the far post.
Despite the loss, the U.S. team remains a strong contender, albeit having lost nine consecutive matches against European teams since 2022. As they prepare to host the World Cup for the first time since 1994, the Americans are set to kick off their campaign against Paraguay on Friday, followed by matches against Australia and Turkey. Historically, the U.S. has not lost its final match before a World Cup since 2002.
Germany, ranked tenth in the world, will begin their World Cup journey against Curaçao on June 14, joining Ivory Coast and Ecuador in their group.
The friendly match attracted a full house at Soldier Field, with 63,636 fans in attendance. This venue notably hosted the opening match of the 1994 World Cup. Unfortunately, Chicago opted not to bid for hosting rights for the 2026 World Cup, citing concerns over financial assurances from FIFA.
The U.S. squad played without key defender Chris Richards, who has been sidelined since suffering a torn ligament in his left ankle on May 17. On the German side, they missed 18-year-old midfielder Lennart Karl, who was ruled out for the World Cup due to a thigh injury sustained in training. Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was also absent, with Oliver Baumann taking his place in goal.
The match’s opening goal resulted from a foul by Tyler Adams just outside the penalty area, with Joshua Kimmich’s free kick perfectly headed in by Havertz—marking his 22nd international goal. Robinson’s goal was a highlight for the U.S., celebrated with a cartwheel and backflip after scoring his fifth international goal, showcasing the athleticism and flair characteristic of modern football.
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
