Germany made it two wins from two at Women’s Euro 2017 as they beat Italy 2-1 on Friday.
In an eventful game in Tilburg, Germany took the lead in the 19th minute when Josephine Henning headed home after Italian keeper Laura Giuliani spilt the ball following Dzsenifer Marozsan’s free-kick.
Italy equalised from a counter-attack 10 minutes later as Ilaria Mauro nutmegged German keeper Almuth Schult after a pass from Barbara Bonansea.
Babett Peter scored from the penalty spot on 67 minutes after Giuliani had brought down Anja Mittag in the box, and a minute later Italy were reduced to 10 players as defender Elisa Bartoli picked up a second yellow card.
Germany hit the post twice – Sara Daebritz in the first half and Mandy Islacker in the second – while Bonansea saw her free-kick cleared by a diving Schult with 10 minutes to go as Italy were eliminated.
In the other Group B game, captain Lotta Schelin and Stina Blackstenius powered Sweden to a 2-0 win over Russia.
Schelin scored Sweden’s opening goal on 22 minutes, heading in a superb free-kick taken by Magdalena Ericsson.
Blackstenius made it 2-0 in the 51st minute as she picked up a poor goal-kick by Russian keeper Tatiana Shcherbak, beat two defenders and fired a shot that Anna Kozhnikova only managed to deflect into the net off the post.
“Three points, two goals, that’s good,” said Sweden coach Pia Sundhage. “I’m happy about the result and parts of the performance, especially in the first half.”
Germany top Group B on six points, with Sweden second on four points and Russia on three.
