After drawing 2-2 with Mexico in the opening match Germany faced another thriller in the second game – and the team coached by Horst Hrubesch again showed great commitment to the cause. As in the encounter with Mexico the German team succeeded in coming from behind twice to get a result against South Korea with former Werkself pro Heung-Min Son in their line-up. The opening goal from Hwang on 25 minutes was cancelled out a Serge Gnabry strike on 33 minutes with Brandt providing the assist. The live wire Brandt fired in a shot on goal but the Korea keeper Kim turned it away for a corner. Germany took a 2-1 lead through Davie Selke (55’) but Son levelled two minutes later. A Brandt volley flew past the upright on 85 minutes. With three minutes to play the Koreans regained the lead but a deflected effort from Gnabry in added time found the back of the net to make it 3-3.
Germany escaped an early exit from the Olympic football tournament at the last minute – and their fate is back in their own hands. If the match between Mexico and South Korea on Wednesday produces a winner then Germany only need to beat Fiji in Belo Horizonte to progress to the quarter-final stage as group runners-up. If Mexico and South Korea draw then Bender, Brandt and Co. will need to win by five goals to overtake Mexico who beat Fiji 5-1. South Korea secured an 8-0 victory over Fiji in their first match.
“It was a nail-biter and I would have preferred an easier game,” admitted Hrubesch. “But we’re still in it!” The Germany coach feared in added time, “that I would have to congratulate our opponents but then I said: We’ll get another chance – and that’s what happened.”
Women earn point late on
The Germany women’s team with Annike Krahn also earned a last-minute reprieve to make good a two-goal deficit in a 2-2 draw with Australia. Sabrina Däbritz netted the first before Saskia Bartusiak forced an Australian own goal. Germany, on four points, are one ahead of Australia. The final group match is against leaders Canada on six points. Krahn was substituted at half-time.
A record stage for the Bayer 04 Women in Munich – and fans can get behind their team together in front of the TV. For the opening match in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga on Saturday, 6 September (kick-off: 17:45 CEST) the Werkself have organised a watch party at the Schwadbud. While the team led by coach Roberto Pätzold face Bayern Munich in front of 45,000 spectators at the Allianz Arena, supporters can also provide vocal support from back home. There will also be a star prize raffled amongst everyone taking part.
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Exclusive insights into the Bayer 04 Women's training camp: Hard training sessions and ice baths, a karaoke team evening with Carlotta Wamser as Eminem, a friendly against VfL Wolfsburg and goalkeeper Charlotte Voll with her VLOG on the team day out to Regensburg. All that, up closer than ever before, is in the training camp recap from Rieden in Upper Bavaria.
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The first away game in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season: The Werkself travel to Werder Bremen on matchday two on Saturday, 30 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). The Bayer 04 Fan Liaison team brings you the latest information on the fixture at the Weserstadion…
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into the 2025/26 Bundesliga season with another partner in the Sponsors Club. The previous Executive Box partner pure.energy has extended their commitment and taken the established partnership with the current German runners-up to the next highest level. The newly defined cooperation between Bayer 04 and pure.energy is set to run for two years to 30 June 2027.
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