Gwinn and Berger grab Germany bronze

Spain 0-1 Germany | Bronze medal match
Goal: Gwinn pen (65)

Giulia Gwinn’s penalty and Ann-Katrin Berger’s spot-kick save ensured Germany bagged bronze for the fourth time in their sixth Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. The in-form 25-year-old won and scored a penalty, before the 33-year-old goalkeeper denied Alexia Putellas from 12 yards with virtually the last act of the game.

Germany started brightly, with Jule Brand and Klara Buhl threatening, the latter’s craftly nutmeg wowing the crowd. As the half wore on, Spain began to take control. Teresa Abelleira hit the crossbar with a free-kick and, following a palatial Aitana Bonmati pass, Marina Hegering did superbly to dispossess Salma Paralluelo. It was then the crossbar’s turn to deny Bonmati, with Jenni Hermoso’s follow-up strike being deflected over.

The dominance of Montserrat Tome’s side continued after the restart, with Kathrin Hendrich’s last-gasp challenge denying Paralluelo and Athenea del Castillo firing off target.

It was Horst Hrubesch’s charges who nevertheless snapped the deadlock. Gwinn got her head to a long ball and was clattered into by Cata Coll. The Germany winger picked herself up off the turf and dispatched the resulting penalty past the Spain goalkeeper.

Coll did redeem herself by making a marvellous save with her outstretched leg from Lea Schuller minutes later.

Spain tried relentlessly to break their opponents down in the closing stages, and finally got a chance to do so when Mariona Caldentey won a penalty with seconds remaining. Putellas stepped up, but Berger guessed right and pushed the ball wide.

Germany have now finished on the podium at five of the six Women’s Olympic Football Tournaments in which they have participated, with four bronzes accompanying the gold won at Rio 2016.

What they said…
“I have no idea what I was doing before the penalty. My head just switched off and my emotions were gone. I’d like to say I was focused, but I was just empty. I was looking for my goalkeeping coach, he wanted to show me where she could possibly place the penalty, but I didn’t see him – even though he’s two metres tall! It was just an instinct at the end.”
Ann-Katrin Berger, Germany goalkeeper

“We had no luck. We tried to do everything today. We’re leaving without the medal we dreamed of, and there’s nothing left to do but keep going, you’re not always going to win. This team still has a lot more to give. Neither when you win are you the best, nor when you lose are you the worst.”
Jennifer Hermoso, Spain forward