Germany U19 make European championship final
Francis Onyeka of newly promoted Elversberg netted a dramatic late winner in a 2-1 success over Ukraine in Wednesday's UEFA U19 European championship semi-final, sending Germany U19 through to face Spain on Saturday (kick-off 8pm CEST).
Onyeka's volley in the first minute of stoppage time sent the young German team into raptures by completing a deserved win after Hamburg's Otto Stange had completed a tidy finish in additional time of the first half after Vitaliy Hlyut had headed Ukraine in front.
Onyeka, who is Germany U19 captain, recently joined Elversberg on loan from Bayer Leverkusen. Another talent in the Werkself's ranks, Montrell Culbreath, was in the semi-final starting line-up for the side coached by former Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund defender Christian Wörns.
Bundesliga 2 talents like Hertha Berlin's Boris Mamuzah Lum and Karlsruhe's Rafael Pinto Pedrosa were also part of the successful side, who now hope to secure Germany's third U19 European crown after wins in 2008 and 2014.
Germany finished their group second behind Spain and suffered a 4-0 defeat to them in Wrexham, which will also be the location of the final. By reaching the semi-finals, Germany also ensured qualification for the 2027 FIFA U20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
Onyeka said after the Ukraine win: "The 4-0 defeat is in the past, and we are focusing now on the final. I think we have a great chance to win the cup. We'll do our best."
