UEFA Nations League: Kane Inspires England as Netherlands and Germany Draw
The latest instalment of Netherlands versus Germany did not disappoint as September’s UEFA Nations League fixtures concluded with a bang, while England skipper Harry Kane marked his 100th cap in style.
Netherlands 2-2 Germany
Familiar rivals Netherlands and Germany had shared 21 goals in their previous five competitive meetings, and Tijjani Reijnders helped ensure the trend was continued by slotting in inside two minutes in Amsterdam. After full debutant Deniz Undav equalised with an emphatic 38th-minute finish, Joshua Kimmich fired the visitors ahead in added time.
That ended a busy first period for home goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and counterpart Marc-André ter Stegen. Denzel Dumfries tapped in Brian Brobbey’s low cross five minutes into a quieter second half, keeping Oranje unbeaten in their last 12 league phase Nations League matches.
Hungary 0-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Visiting goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj starred as Sergej Barbarez’s team claimed a hard-fought point. The home side dominated the first half but Barnabás Varga was repeatedly denied by Vasilj, who kept out two goal-bound headers from the 29-year-old before thwarting the forward at the near post.
Vasilj also blocked a fierce Zsolt Nagy effort as the teams went into half-time on level terms. Dominik Szoboszlai’s second-half free-kick struck the woodwork and Martin Ádám sent a free header straight at Vasilj late on, but there was no way through for Marco Rossi’s men at the Puskás Aréna.
England 2-0 Finland
Harry Kane marked his 100th appearance for England with two superb goals as interim manager Lee Carsley made it two wins in two. Kane, the tenth man to reach the landmark for England, went close several times before he collected Trent Alexander-Arnold’s pass, beat a defender on the edge of the area and fired in off the underside of the bar.
Captain Kane then swept in a pass from substitute debutant Noni Madueke to wrap up the win and move to 68 international goals. The Bayern München forward had had an earlier header ruled out for offside as England dominated at a wet Wembley.
Elsewhere on Tuesday
Greece lead England on goal difference after Christos Tzolis struck late to wrap up an impressive 2-0 victory in the Republic of Ireland.
Levante midfielder Giorgi Kochorashvili was on the scoresheet for the second game running as Georgia made it two wins from two.
Pavel Šulc registered twice as Czechia edged out Ukraine 3-2 to claim their first points of Group B1.
Matchday 2 Results
Hungary 0-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Netherlands 2-2 Germany
Albania 0-1 Georgia
Czechia 3-2 Ukraine
England 2-0 Finland
Republic of Ireland 0-2 Greece
Latvia 1-0 Faroe Islands
North Macedonia 2-0 Armenia
Andorra 0-1 Malta
