The U16 women's national team won their last game at this year's European Cup in Vierumäki/FIN with 4:0 (0:0/1:0/3:0) against Hungary and thus secured 5th place.
The German team had more of the game at the start of the game, but the Hungarians kept coming dangerously in front of the German goal. Lilly Uhrmann was wide awake from the start and kept the backs of those in front of her. Five minutes had been played when the German team developed a period of pressure and restricted their opponents to a whole substitution. Pauline Gruchot had the best chance to date in the seventh minute, but her shot bounced off the end of the Hungarian goalkeeper's stick. After the Germans were outnumbered, the Hungarians started to take more offensive actions and an open exchange of blows developed with opportunities for both sides. Shortly before the first break, the German team increased the pressure again, but they missed their excellent chances.
The German team also implemented the instructions well in the second third and had more of the game. In the 25th minute of the game there was an opportunity to take the lead in the power play. Alina Leveringhaus therefore gratefully accepted the offer. First she let an opponent run into space with a nice physical illusion, then she beat the Hungarian goalkeeper with a powerful shot into the top corner. Hungary responded with aggressive physical play and furious attempts to attack, but the DEB-Selection held on and had a great chance, again through Alina Leveringhaus. But she sent the disc past the empty goal. Germany invested more in the game, but couldn't continue to reward themselves for their work. Leonie Maßner's shot in the 39th minute was only centimeters away. The German team went into the second break with a narrow lead.
Less than two minutes had been played in the final period when Lilli Welcke had the next good opportunity to extend the lead. But her shot hit the Hungarian goalkeeper's mask. In the 37th minute of the game, Lilli Welcke went for a backhand shot, hit an opponent's racket and the disc flew in a high arc over Hungary's goalkeeper and into the goal to make it 2-0. Two minutes later, Jennifer Miller even had the next goal on her stick. But she waited too long to shoot at the empty goal and a Hungarian defender intervened at the last moment. Lola Liang did better in the 52nd minute. Joyce König shot with the advantage from the blue line, the disc bounced off Hungary's
Goalkeeper right on Liang's stick, who had no trouble pushing in to make it 3-0. Six minutes before the final siren, Celine Mayer hit a shot from the blue line onto the crossbar. A power play with just under two minutes left gave the German team a 4-0 lead. After many attractive pass combinations in the run-up to the goal, which remained unused, the goal ultimately came as a surprise. Lilli Welcke shot at the goal from the goal line, the disc was on the goalkeeper's skate, she went into the butterfly and pushed the disc over the line herself. The German team secured fifth place in the European Cup with a 4-0 win and will travel home to Germany tomorrow, Friday.
Florian Neumayer, Federal Young Talent Trainer: “The girls showed a good fighting performance and implemented our instructions well. I am very satisfied with our team's overall tournament performance. We just have to work on exploiting opportunities in the future. Today in particular we had great opportunities that were not taken. We still lack some coolness in front of the opponent's goal. If we fix that, together with our attitude and technical skills, we will have a good overall package for the coming season.”
Germany: Uhrmann (Disl) – Strompf, king; Lilli Welcke (A), Luisa Welcke, Liang – Raschke (C), Mayer; Bartell, Leveringhaus, Sterzik – Heinz, Kohberg; Miller, Gruchot (A), Hark – Topfmeier, Cyrulies; Willeitner, Maßner, Wallner
Gates: 1:0 Alina Leveringhaus (24:42/PP1), 2:0 Lilli Welcke (46:54), 3:0 Lola Loang (51:43), 4:0 Lilli Welcke (58:19/PP1)
Penalty minutes: Germany 2 – Hungary 6
You can find all information about the tournament and the final rankings HERE.