Follow the Women’s U19 Euro: Match schedule, results, and group standings in our tournament tracking page.
Germany needed 109 minutes and a player who had started the match on the bench to overcome Austria. Tessa Zimmermann, introduced in second-half stoppage time, scored following a corner delivered by Carolina Müller to send Melanie Behringer’s side into the UEFA Women’s Under-19 EURO final.
Austria were 11 minutes away from penalties in the first European semi-final ever played by one of their women’s youth national teams. They defended close to their own area, blocked numerous efforts, survived a shot against the post and lost their captain before half-time, but could not contain Germany’s persistence until the end.
Germany produced the first warning in the fourth minute. Maj Schneider tested the goalkeeper after a Müller corner before Felicia Sträßer’s follow-up was blocked. Germany tried to establish themselves around the Austrian penalty area, although for long spells they moved the ball without finding space inside a very compact defensive block.
Austria did not initially restrict themselves to waiting. Ella Herbst had a shot on target in the 24th minute, while Chiara Pötzl was able to carry the ball forward whenever her side regained possession. Every transition, however, required them to cover too much ground and rarely continued close to Mia Krumme’s goal.
Germany threatened again shortly after the half-hour mark. Helen Börner tested Mariella Grabenhofer in the 30th minute before Sträßer fired wide two minutes later. Austria’s defence protected their goalkeeper and prevented Germany’s dominance from producing a lead before the interval.
Austria suffered a greater setback in the 40th minute. Their captain, Valentina Illinger, had to leave the pitch in tears and was replaced by Anika Hofschweiger. The change strengthened Markus Hackl’s defensive structure even further.
Emma Memminger had an effort on target in the 43rd minute and tried again before the break. Austria responded with a Pötzl shot that was blocked in stoppage time, but the first half ended goalless.
Germany increased the pressure after the restart. Sträßer had an effort blocked in the 47th minute, while Laila Portella had two consecutive opportunities in the 53rd: the first was blocked and the second went wide. Paula Rintzner and Sträßer also searched for the opening goal without finding the target.
Austria gradually dropped deeper. Their defence protected the penalty area, Grabenhofer intervened whenever Germany broke through the first line of resistance and Pötzl was involved in almost every attempt to escape the pressure. The midfielder still managed efforts in the 49th and 84th minutes, but Austria’s attacks were becoming increasingly isolated.
The semi-final almost turned in Germany’s favour in the 88th minute. Memminger tried her luck from distance and struck the post. Austria survived and, barely a minute later, Denise Lueger came close to punishing Germany with an effort that went wide.
In the 90+2nd minute, Jennifer Richter delivered a corner and Johanna Keckeis saw the resulting shot blocked. It was Austria’s final moment of genuine danger.
Germany produced almost all the attacking play during extra time. Leni Eggert delivered a succession of corners, while Lany Bäcker, Leonie Köpp and Schneider all added efforts without finding the target. Austria could barely leave their own half and were beginning to feel the effects of a semi-final played almost entirely close to their own penalty area.
Zimmermann had come on in the second minute of second-half stoppage time in place of Sträßer. In the 109th, Müller delivered another corner and the midfielder scored the 1-0 goal that finally broke the deadlock.
Austria tried to respond, but could no longer find a way to approach Krumme’s goal. Germany controlled the closing minutes, forced two more corners in the 120th minute and prevented the match from reaching the penalty shootout that had long appeared inevitable.
Germany will face Spain in Friday’s final after the defending champions defeated Sweden 3-0 earlier in the day. Austria depart after taking the first European semi-final in their history into the second half of extra time.
They lost their captain, withstood Germany’s pressure and came within 11 minutes of extending the best tournament in their history even further.
Austria wanted to avoid another July Crisis in Sarajevo. They managed it for almost two hours.
