UNDAV BRACE BEATS BOSNIA AS GERMANY CONTINUE UNBEATEN NATIONS LEAGUE START
Germany maintained their unbeaten start to this season’s Nations League after holding on for a narrow 2-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Deniz Undav’s first-half brace put the visitors in control in Zenica.
Edin Dzeko halved the deficit with 20 minutes remaining, but Julian Nagelsmann’s side held out to strengthen their position at the Group A3 summit.
Germany broke through on the half-hour mark when Florian Wirtz beat the offside trap to latch onto Joshua Kimmich’s lofted ball into the area. He then showed great awareness to tee up Undav, who neatly slotted a first-time finish beyond Bosnia goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.
The hosts almost responded five minutes later with Ermedin Demirovic hitting the bar. However, within 60 seconds, they were 2-0 behind when Maximilian Mittelstadt’s inviting cross was turned in by Undav from close range.
Undav thought he had his hat-trick just before the hour mark, only to be denied for offside following a lengthy VAR review.
The offside flag also thwarted Serge Gnabry before Bosnia gave themselves hope 20 minutes from time, when Dzeko rose to nod in Benjamin Tahirovic’s corner.
However, it proved a consolation for the hosts, as the visitors held out for victory.