Germany celebrated their first win in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday night led by a strong FC Bayern contingent – and what a win it was! Germany secured a convincing 5-2 victory over Italy in Mönchengladbach. Midfield dynamo Joshua Kimmich put Germany ahead on 10 minutes. Ilkay Gündoğan (45') extended the lead from the penalty spot before Thomas Müller (51') made it 3-0. Timo Werner (68', 69') netted a quick brace with both goals set up by FCB player Serge Gnabry to put Germany out of sight. Wilfried Gnonto (78') and Alessandro Bastoni (90') scored consolation goals for Italy.
Neuer draws level with Lahm
The win takes Germany up to second place in Group 3 of League A on six points after four games, one point behind Hungary (seven). Italy are third (five) with England in the fourth spot (two). Captain Manuel Neuer made his 113th international appearance to draw level with Philipp Lahm and is now in sixth place in the history of the national team. In addition, Niklas Süle, Kimmich, Müller and Leroy Sané of FC Bayern were in the starting eleven. Gnabry (from 64 minutes) and Jamal Musiala (from 75 minutes) came on as substitutes, Leon Goretzka was an unused sub.
Kimmich opens the scoring
The hosts took the lead on ten minutes with the first clearcut chance. A cross from David Raum found Kimmich unmarked in the middle and he controlled the ball with his right foot and then hit it into the back of the net with his left to make it 1-0. Germany then had several good chances through Jonas Hofmann, Sané and Werner. Germany were awarded a penalty in added time at the end of the first half for a foul on Hofman. Gündoğan converted it to double the lead.
Italy started better in the second half but Germany were clinical. An attempt to clear by the visitors saw the ball end up with Müller who slotted the ball into the net to put Germany 3-0 up. Substitute Gnabry set up Werner on 68 minutes for the fourth goal. But that was not all: One minute later, Gnabry intercepted a pass from the Italian keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and he fed the ball to Werner who netted a second to make it 5-0. Italian striker Gnonto pulled a goal back with 12 minutes to play. Bastoni scored the final goal from a corner in added time with Germany then 5-2 up. The next international for Germany in the Nations League is against group leaders Hungary in Leipzig on 23 September.
Lewandowski and Poland lose to Belgium
Robert Lewandowski and the Polish national team lost out to Belgium in the Nations League on Tuesday. The team coached by Czeslaw Michniewicz lost 1-0 in Warsaw. Michy Batshuayi scored the winner on 16 minutes. Lewandowski played the full 90 minutes. After four matches, Poland in Group 4 of League A are in third place on four points ahead of Wales (one point) and below the Netherlands (10) and Belgium (7).
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