JuicyTalk
Watch all the goals and read our report as Germany continue their World Cup preparations in Stuttgart
Denis Undav’s 89th-minute strike earned Germany a deserved 2-1 win over Ghana in an international friendly on Monday night.
The hosts looked to be heading for frustration in Stuttgart when Abdul Fatawu’s late strike cancelled out Kai Havertz’s first-half penalty after missing several good chances to improve on their lead.
But Stuttgart striker Undav made himself the hero in front of his own crowd when he came off to brilliantly slot home the winner and boost his hopes of making Germany’s World Cup 2026 squad.
Havertz penalty makes first-half dominance pay
Germany dominated the early stages in Stuttgart but were unable to muster a clear-cut chance and find the breakthrough.
Florian Wirtz struck the post from a free-kick, while Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade both went close as the hosts created a series of chances.
Joshua Kimmich, drifting inside from right-back, was controlling the tempo and kept Germany on the front foot, though Serge Gnabry fired wide from distance.
A goalmouth scramble from a Kimmich free-kick saw a Jonathan Tah effort deflect wide, before Wirtz had the ball in the back of the net with a neat finish but the referee flagged for offside in what was another let off for Ghana.
The hosts did finally go ahead just before the half-time break from the penalty spot after Jonas Adjetey was judged to have handled the ball from Angelo Stiller.
Havertz was the man to step up and the Arsenal man rolled the ball into the net to put Germany in front and grab his 21st international goal.
Fatawu punishes hosts
Antoine Semenyo finally got his chance to shine early in the second half, with the Manchester City star skipping past Rudiger brilliantly before squaring it to Enoch Kofi Adu whose shot was blocked.
Woltemade was the next to go close, as the Newcastle striker rattled a header off the crossbar with Denis Undav unable to turn the rebound home.
Lennart Karl got his chance to shine from the bench and the 18-year-old showed everyone why he is rated so highly with some brilliant moments on his second cap.
The teenager dispossessed Jordan Ayew and skipped past a number of Ghanaian defenders before eventually being brought down on the edge of the box after what was a superb drive forward.
But Germany were punished for all their missed chances with 20 minutes to play when Fatawu slotted home from Derrick Kohn’s cross following powerful run down the left as the scores were surprisingly brought level.
Karl squandered his big moment to score the winner when a loose touch from club-mate Leon Goretzka’s pass saw him only manage to prod an effort wide of goal.
But, in fact, the big moment was actually reserved for Undav in front of his home crowd in Stuttgart – the former Brighton striker picked up the ball from Leroy Sane’s mistimed header before superbly slotting home.
