Lineth Beerensteyn Spoils Germany’s Nations League Debut
Wolfsburg star striker Lineth Beerensteyn put a damper on Germany’s opening Nations League match, scoring twice to earn the Netherlands a 2-2 draw.
Beerensteyn exploited the German defense’s vulnerabilities in the 13th and 66th minutes, canceling out goals from Bayern Munich’s Lea Schüller (45.+1) and Sjoeke Nüsken (50). The match at the Goffertstadion in Nijmegen drew approximately 11,000 spectators.
"The second goal was absolutely deserved, but then we unfortunately lost our way a bit," said midfielder Laura Freigang on German television ARD. "It’s a little bitter, but we’ll take it."
Germany’s head coach Christian Wück also lamented his team’s failure to build on their 2-1 lead and criticized the poor start. "Especially in the first 15, 20 minutes, we didn’t play well," he said.
Captain Giulia Gwinn acknowledged the match’s "ups and downs," adding, "We simply have to learn to use our momentum."
Netherlands Dominates Early, Beerensteyn Strikes
The Netherlands, led by coach Andries Jonker, started the brighter of the two sides, with Beerensteyn proving a constant threat to the German defense. After receiving a through ball, Beerensteyn easily outpaced DFB debutant Rebecca Knaak and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger for the opening goal.
Wück had opted for Berger, 34, in goal over younger rivals Stina Johannes and Sophia Winkler, citing her experience as a "beacon in the defense." However, Berger’s performance did little to strengthen her case for a regular starting spot, and she made a costly error in the second half.
Germany Responds, But Beerensteyn Punishes Again
Despite their shaky start, Germany gradually gained a foothold in the match. A tactical huddle midway through the first half seemed to inspire the team, and Schüller equalized just before the break with a header from Klara Bühl’s cross.
After the interval, Nüsken put Germany ahead with a composed finish from Jule Brand’s pass. Schüller nearly extended the lead but was denied by goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar.
However, Beerensteyn struck again to level the score for a second time. Left-back Sarai Linder and Bühl failed to clear a cross from Chasity Grant, and Gwinn allowed Beerensteyn to sneak in behind her for a free header.
End-to-End Finish
In the latter stages, both teams pushed for a winner, with the Netherlands looking the likelier side. Wück introduced four fresh faces in Linda Dallmann, Vivien Endemann, Selina Cerci, and Felicitas Rauch, but they failed to make an immediate impact.
Ultimately, the two sides shared the spoils, leaving Germany with a bittersweet start to their Nations League campaign. Beerensteyn’s goals exposed some weaknesses in the German defense, while the team’s performance at times hinted at their potential.
