Nicolas Kuehn of Germany celebrates with team mates Jann-Fiete Arp and Josha Vagnoman after scoring his team's second goal during the group C match between Guinea and Germany at Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadiumin Kochi | Photo: Getty imagesKochi: Germany scored a hard-fought 3-1 win over Guinea in their crucial Group C game to advance to the pre-quarterfinals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Friday.
Germany drew first blood through captain Jann-Fiete Arp in the eighth minute, but Ibrahima Soumah restored parity for the Africans in the 26th.
Nicolas Kuehn regained the lead for Germany in the 62nd amid immense pressure from the Africans. Substitute Sahverdi Cetin completed the tally by converting a penalty in injury time.
Iran beat Costa Rica 3-0 in the other Group C fixture in Goa to top the group with nine points. Germany ended up second with six points from three games. Guinea and Costa Rica bowed out with one point each.
Aggressive start
The Germans, who suffered a 0-4 loss at the hands of Iran in their previous game, pressed forward from the word go. Star striker Arp was brought down just outside the penalty area by Ismael Traore in the opening minute. Traore was booked, but the Germans could not make the most of the free-kick.
However, the Germans capitalized on an error by Traore in the eighth minute to fire the opening salvo. Dennis Jastrezembski pounced on a back pass from Traore and relayed it to Arp who calmly slotted it past Guinean goalkeeper Mohamed Camara.
Germany kept attacking and were the dominant side in the early part of the game.
Guinea came close to finding an equalizer against the run of play when Ibrahima dribbled past a German defender, but he shot over.
Ibrahima drew level for the Africans in the 26th after a brilliant move. There were three Guinean players inside the German area and Ibrahima showed admirable composure to outwit German custodian Luca Plogmann to the delight of the sparse crowd on an overcast evening.
The equalizer fired up the Gunieans and they started to create more chances. But it was even stevens at the break.
Missed opportunity
Captain Fandje Toure had a golden chance to put Guinea in front shortly on resumption of play. Toure, though, failed to connect a flick-on from his teammate.
At the other end, Camara came up with a double save to thwart the Germans.
With both sides intent on attacking, the pace of the game too picked up. Elhadj Bah failed to shoot on target off a fine pass by Aguibou Camara in the 52nd.
Knowing very well they needed a win to progress, Guinea threw men forward. But it was Germany who scored through Kuehn in the 62nd. He received a pass from Arp, outfoxed a defender, and then rolled the ball into the net past Camara.
Guinea gave it their all and kept attacking. Toure failed to hit the target in the 68th as Germany heaved a sigh of relief.
Camara pulled off a fine block with his leg to deny the Germans in the 80th.
Toure's misery grew as he missed another chance with eight minutes to go.
Guinea's misfortune was complete when Cetin scored off a penalty to wrap up the win.
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