Germany complete comfortable Ukraine triumph
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
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Germany 2-0 Ukraine (agg 5-0)
Captain Kevin Volland and Leonardo Bittencourt scored late on for Horst Hrubesch's side, easing Germany into the June 2015 finals.
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Germany completed a resounding UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-off victory over Ukraine with the aid of two late second-leg goals.
Heavy favourites to book a place at next summer's finals in the Czech Republic following their 3-0 away win on Friday, Germany were heading for a goalless draw in the return encounter until captain Kevin Volland, unmarked, broke the deadlock in the 89th minute from Leonardo Bittencourt's left-wing cross.
Bittencourt, a substitute at the beginning of the second period, doubled Horst Hrubesch's side's lead in stoppage time, following up to score after Nikita Shevchenko had kept out a shot from Volland with his legs.
A disappointing night for Ukraine, who seldom threatened, was compounded by the dismissal of Oleksandr Karavayev in the dying seconds for a challenge on Max Meyer.