The match-winner was beaming after the final whistle unburdened of any stress and strain. “I’m really happy we did it. We’re all relieved and we’re over the moon,” said Benjamin Henrichs after his cool conversion of the winning spot-kick in the penalty shootout with Holland secured fifth spot at the U19 European Championships. Seconds after finding the back of the net he was submerged in a celebrating huddle with his deliriously happy team-mates.
The 5-4 win in the penalty shootout, following a a hard-fought 3-3 draw over 120 minutes, was enough to seal fifth place for Germany in the Euros on home soil – and qualification for next year’s U20 World Cup in South Korea. It was a roller coaster ride for the hosts with plenty of ups and downs: 1-0 ahead, 2-1 behind within minutes and an almost completely unexpected equaliser in the third minute of added time to take the game to extra time. Then 3-2 before the blow of an equaliser to level the scores at 3-3 – and to round it off a thunderous shot against the bar in the final minutes of extra time from Benny Henrichs. The lottery of penalties followed with Amara Conde failing to score for the Germany U19s. The game was in the hands of the Dutch side but they hit the bar before Henrichs slotted the winning penalty into the back of the net.
It was a thrilling encounter in front of 8,600 enthusiastic fans in Sandhausen. Germany were clearly the better side before the Dutch hit back out of the blue in the closing stages. Henrichs produced an outstanding display in defensive midfield and everything the impressive Werkself pro did seemed to come off. Bayer 04 central defender Lukas Boeder did not get in in Germany’s final match of the tournament.
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
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