Harry Kane’s 50th international goal helped England draw level with Germany with minutes to spare in their 2022/23 UEFA Nations League encounter.
Adversaries England and Germany renewed their rivalry for the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League campaign on Tuesday night in Munich. Drawn in the same group and without a win after the first matchday, both the teams were looking to make an early statement by beating their old foes in front of a packed house.
Germany were the better of the two sides early on. They were denied the lead twice, first by Kyle Walker on the line and later by the referee’s assistant, who raised the flag as Jonas Hofmann wheeled away in celebration, having beaten Jordan Pickford with a well-placed shot.
Meanwhile, in an otherwise cagey first half, Harry Kane skied his shot over the bar following a corner from close range. The Spurs forward would have to wait for his half-century of international goals until the final moments.
The home side took the lead in the 51st minute. Kai Havertz’s intelligent movement opened up a channel for Joshua Kimmich to slide the ball through to Hofmann. The attacker turned inside the England box and beat Pickford with a fierce strike at his near post.
The Three Lions came close to levelling matters in the 76th minute when Kane slid in to meet Jack Grealish’s cross at the back post. Manuel Neuer, shuffling to the other side, made a superb block to keep his side in the lead.
However, Kane did score in the 88th minute from the spot; the England captain was tripped inadvertently by Nico Schlotterbeck, resulting in the penalty that he converted with ease. As a result, the two sides remained without a win in their 2022/23 Nations League campaign.
Elsewhere, Italy recorded their first win by beating Hungary 2-1. Nicolo Barella opened the scoring in the 30th minute with a rocket from outside the box that nestled into the top corner.
Lorenzo Pellegrini doubled the Azzurri’s lead fifteen minutes later, slotting the ball in comfortably from a Matteo Politano cross.
While Hungary pulled a goal back a minute past the hour mark when Gianluca Mancini sliced a cross from Attila Fiola beyond his goalkeeper, Roberto Mancini’s men held onto their narrow lead to see out the result.
