Germany defeated the United States Men’s National Team 3-1 Saturday at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in front of the largest soccer crowd East Hartford has ever seen.
The “soccer friendly” provided the first win for the German Head Coach, Julian Nagelsmann, and the breakout first national goal for Germany’s young protege, 20-year-old Jamal Musiala.
The announced crowd of 37,743 – once they managed to get from the parking lot into the stadium – witnessed an exciting contest from start to finish. The rain held off into midway into the second half, and by then it was merely a drizzle. The first half was all soccer fans could ask for as both sets of professionals – playing as a team for the first time – tested the other. They were not hesitant to take big risks from the start.
Germany relied on strong play from Leroy Sane from the right side of the box, pressing the center and left side of the net forcing Matt Turner to defend against multiple attackers.
The Americans were led by team captain Christian Pulisic who embedded himself on the left side of the field and picked his way through the German defenders. The strategy paid off as he scored the team’s first goal bursting through three defenders to find the top right corner of the net in the 24th minute.
Germany’s captain responded in the 38th minute, following a rebound from a shot by midfielder Leroy Sane which Matt Turner turned away, into the left side of the net to even the score at 1-1.
Germany’s appeared to start finding the range as a shot ricocheted off the post.
USA started off the second half of play slowing down its pace of play while Germany countered with more short attacking passes to set themselves up for opportunity at the top of the box. That paid off in the 48th minute when German captain Ilkay Gundogan found forward Niclas Fullkrug for a beautiful goal to put the Germans up 2-1. USA again settled into a more deliberate approach, working the ball down to the top of the box but ultimately with no result.
After Chris Richards was given a yellow card for a midfield collision, Germany pressed the attack, backing up the Americans around their own goal. When two US defenders collided on the left side of the crease, Kapitan Gundogan found Fullkrug again but Turner made the save.
In the 59th minute Fullkrug earned an assist as he found young Jamal Musiala out front who steered the ball to the right side to make it 3-1 Germany. Musiala lit up with a big smile and hugged his teammates celebrating his first goal as a member of the national team.
Team USA did not surrender, but after that third goal they could have adopted a more defensive posture. In a “friendly” game, however, all players were eager to show their stuff. Musiala found Leroy Sane at the top of the box, but Sane’s shot went left of the wide open net.
USA switched to a 2-4-4 offense but were unable to mount effective team play whereas Germany appeared to find a more cohesive game. With a two-goal margin they did not ease off the attack, keeping the Americans on their end of the pitch. Both teams then made a series of whole-scale substitutions. USA had a chance, being awarded a kick from 20 yards out atop the box in stoppage time. But Germany set a perfect defensive wall to block the shot.
Light rain settled over the field at the 69th minute, but the crowd was treated to a good contest and, overall, the result of a soccer friendly is not the end of the world for either team. The day before the Germany Head Coach said as much when asked that question. As Rentschler was filled with fans, and German media crews were in East Hartford in abundance. Soccer fans here and abroad were eager to see if their new head coaches would be effective. On the German side, a nation was waiting to see if their young hope – Musiala – had what it would take to carry their hope for a World Cup.
On both accounts the contest affirmed that they are capable. German Coach Nagelsmann, who was tapped to coach the national team only recently having retired as a player, registered his first win here in East Hartford. Musiala, 20, soaked it all in, playing “with a free mind and just to have fun” in front of a distant but friendly crowd of 40,000. No pressure here.
For the United States, what lessons were learned? It will take more team practice. It is far too early for Head Coach Gregg Berhalter to determine the best combination of players as these teams are comprised of the top professionals on many different teams. Finding the right combination of players remains a work in progress. Pulisic, MNT captain, had an impressive performance. Also standing out was the play of Yunus Musah, who just missed on an opportunity which fell atop the net, and Tim Weah, Turner and Joe Scally. Germany appeared stronger, especially on defense with Jonathan Tah and Niklas Sule particularly formidable, pushing smaller team USA forwards aside.
NOTES: Traffic was a problem getting into and exiting out of Rentschler. It is a problem which is difficult to understand considering the state of Connecticut has been managing this stadium it owns for 20 years, and additional parking areas were secured by the state along Silver Lane. But traffic was a mess hours before the game started coming into the stadium, and taillights persisted trying to exit at 6:30 p.m. as drivers sat in their cars.
Team USA appeared to strike first when Pulisic waved his arms to attract a pass but was five yards behind the defense. His offside goal was clearly disallowed. But the no-goal whetted the soccer appetite of the crowd of 40,000 as drums banged and American flags waved at The Wrench. The game began with a moment of silence for all the victims of violence in the Middle East.
Traffic entering the dispersed parking areas was still lined up to get in at the 20-minute mark, and Team USA gear and even leiderhosen was in the haus. The top northwest corner of P&W Stadium at Rentschler was filled with Black-red and green flag-waving fans. Luxury field level seats were full, although the VIP parking area was largely unfilled.
