The first goal came midway through the first half thanks to Shkodran Mustafi. However, it was not until second-half stoppage time that German supporters and coaching staff had the chance to celebrate the second, with Bastian Schweinsteiger netting the ball – his first for the national team in five years.
German players started the match comfortably with their confidence boosted by an unbeaten record against Ukraine in the past. Though, it was the Ukrainian team who enjoyed the first scoring opportunity of the match after five minutes as Konoplyanka’s strike from the edge of the box forced goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to make a brilliant save.
Germany suddenly cruised ahead in the 19th minute with Mustafi heading home Tonis Kroos’s cross for an opener.
In the following minutes, chances were split evenly for both teams. Neuer denied Yevhen Khacheridi’s 26th-minute header, while Ukrainian keeper Pyatov also played efficiently on the opposite site of the field blocking Sami Khedira’s face-to-face shot three minutes later.
In the second half, Pyatov went on with his top form preventing Ukraine from conceding the second goal three times in a row by blocking powerful strikes by Julian Draxler in the 48th minute, Khedira in the 61st and Thomas Muller in the 76th.
Despite their constant attacks, German players could not find the back of the net. Fans at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy had to wait until injury time to celebrate the second goal as substitute Schweinsteiger shot in Mesut Ozil’s nice cross to seal an aggregate 2-0 win for Germany.
The opening victory lifted Germany to top of Group C with three points, followed by Poland, who defeated North Ireland 1-0 in another group matchup earlier.
Germany next face Poland on June 17, while North Ireland will meet Ukraine the previous day.
