Shropshire Star

Gabriel Jesus on target as Brazil beat Germany

Germany struggled to open up a solid Brazil defence.

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Gabriel Jesus’ first-half header gave Brazil a deserved 1-0 win over Germany in a dominating performance in Berlin.

The Manchester City striker got on the end of a superb cross from the right from Willian to head past Kevin Trapp.

Germany struggled to open up a solid Brazil defence, who were largely untroubled by the hosts.

Brazil made the brighter start but it was the Germans who had the first real sight on goal when Leroy Sane cut into the Brazil half after six minutes and went down in the area under pressure but the referee had no interest.

The visitors responded though and after 10 minutes, quick feet from Philippe Coutinho saw him waltz past three German defenders but he could not pick out a team-mate in the box and Germany cleared the danger.

Coutinho was constantly causing problems for the German defence and again cut through their defence five minutes later but his shot from 20 yards was blocked and the Germans again were able to clear.

Leon Goretzka was proving to be the biggest threat for the hosts down the right flank and one dangerous cross forced Brazil captain Thiago Silva to get in ahead of Mario Gomez and head the ball behind.

Coutinho opened the Germans up ahead midway through the first half as he left two defenders in his wake and laid the ball off to Jesus, who was wasteful as the danger passed.

Another Goretzka cross picked out Gomez but he could only send his header wide from a tight angle.

Jesus then burst clear with 35 minutes gone and checked back on himself to find some space and time but he fired over the bar from 15 yards.

Moments later Brazil were ahead. Willian’s superb cross from the right found Jesus six yards out and, although his header was straight at Trapp, the goalkeeper struggled to handle it and could only fumble the ball over his own line.

Joshua Kimmich then found Gomez just before the interval but again he could not direct his header on target.

It was Brazil who continued to look the more dangerous after the break as Willian had a shot blocked and Paulinho then forced a fine save from Trapp diving away to his left.

The visitors continued to pile forward and Coutinho lifted another effort narrowly over the bar.

Willian’s long diagonal ball picked out Jesus but he could not get much power on his header and it was turned behind for a corner.

Germany struggled to break down a solid Brazil backline but Julian Brandt skipped away from two defenders before seeing a shot deflected behind for a corner.

And their best chance of the game came in stoppage time as Toni Kroos’ short corner picked out Julian Draxler on the edge of the box and his fizzed effort forced a superb save from Alisson.

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