International Friendlies
Germany2Saudi Arabia1

World Cup warm-up match: Germany 2-1 Saudi Arabia

Ilkay Gundogan
Ilkay Gundogan had two close-range efforts saved moments after coming on

Ilkay Gundogan was booed by Germany fans as the team avoided a late scare to beat Saudi Arabia in their final World Cup warm-up game, in Leverkusen.

The Manchester City midfielder was jeered as he came on, and every time he touched the ball, after meeting Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan in May and calling him "my president".

Germany were looking comfortable at 2-0 after a goal from Timo Werner and an Omar Hawsawi own goal.

But Taiseer Al-Jassam pulled one back.

And the Saudis, who have also qualified for the World Cup, should have had an injury-time penalty when Mats Hummels pulled Mohammad Al-Sahlawi's shirt six yards from goal.

Difficult day for Gundogan

Gundogan and Mesut Ozil, who also met Turkey's president in London last month, were both criticised by the German FA at the time and booed by Germany fans during a 2-1 defeat in Austria on Saturday.

Arsenal midfielder Ozil missed the Saudi Arabia game with a slight knee problem - although he is not a doubt for the World Cup - leaving Gundogan to bear the fans' anger on his own.

Manager Joachim Low looked irritated at the reaction of the crowd as he brought on Gundogan - who is of Turkish descent - and urged them to instead cheer the player.

But the City midfielder was jeered every time he touched the ball, including when he had two close-range efforts saved moments after coming on.

Gundogan said earlier this week he has struggled with the reaction and he is "privileged to have grown up in Germany" despite his "strong connection to Turkey".

Germany's first win of 2018 - but only just

World champions Germany had been on their worst run of form since 1988 having failed to win any of their five friendlies in 2018 - albeit all against good sides.

They looked in control after Werner smashed the ball in off the crossbar from Marco Reus' cross.

Reus and Sami Khedira hit the post before Hawsawi bundled in Werner's cross, which Thomas Muller was trying to turn home.

But Germany lost momentum after making six changes and the Saudis won a disputed penalty when Al-Jassam went down in a challenge from Khedira.

Al-Sahlawi's effort was saved by substitute keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen but Al-Jassam smashed in the rebound.

The visitors almost extended Germany's winless run when Hummels escaped conceding a spot-kick late on.

The hosts will need to play better when they face Mexico in their World Cup opener on Sunday, 17 June.

Line-ups

Germany

  • 1NeuerSubstituted forter Stegenat 45'minutes
  • 18KimmichSubstituted forGinterat 81'minutes
  • 17BoatengSubstituted forSüleat 45'minutes
  • 5Hummels
  • 3Hector
  • 6Khedira
  • 8Kroos
  • 13MüllerSubstituted forBrandtat 74'minutes
  • 11ReusSubstituted forGündoganat 57'minutes
  • 7Draxler
  • 9WernerSubstituted forGomezat 62'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Plattenhardt
  • 4Ginter
  • 10Özil
  • 12Trapp
  • 14Goretzka
  • 15Süle
  • 16Rüdiger
  • 19Rudy
  • 20Brandt
  • 21Gündogan
  • 22ter Stegen
  • 23Gomez

Saudi Arabia

  • 1Al-Mayoof
  • 13Al Shahrani
  • 3Os HawsawiSubstituted forAlbulayhiat 83'minutes
  • 5Om Hawsawi
  • 2Al-HarbiSubstituted forAl-Buraykat 45'minutes
  • 14AteefSubstituted forAl-Mogahwiat 75'minutesBooked at 89mins
  • 8Al Shehri
  • 17Al Jassam
  • 7Al FarajSubstituted forAl Khaibariat 90+1'minutes
  • 29Al DawsariSubstituted forBahebriat 87'minutes
  • 19Al Muwallad Al-HarbiSubstituted forAl Sahlawiat 62'minutes

Substitutes

  • 6Al-Burayk
  • 9Bahebri
  • 10Al Sahlawi
  • 11Al-Khaibri
  • 12Kanno
  • 15Al Khaibari
  • 16Al-Mogahwi
  • 20Abu Radeah Aseri
  • 21Al-Mosailem
  • 22Al Owais
  • 23M Hawsawi
  • 26Albulayhi
Referee:
Slavko Vincic
Attendance:
30,210

Match Stats

Home TeamGermanyAway TeamSaudi Arabia
Possession
Home59%
Away41%
Shots
Home21
Away12
Shots on Target
Home8
Away4
Corners
Home8
Away2
Fouls
Home12
Away8

Live Text

Match ends, Germany 2, Saudi Arabia 1.

Full Time

Second Half ends, Germany 2, Saudi Arabia 1.

Toni Kroos (Germany) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Yahya Al Shehri (Saudi Arabia).

Substitution

Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Abdullah Al Khaibari replaces Salman Al Faraj.

Attempt missed. Mario Gomez (Germany) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Julian Brandt with a cross.

Booking

Hussain Al-Mogahwi (Saudi Arabia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Ilkay Gündogan (Germany) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Hussain Al-Mogahwi (Saudi Arabia).

Substitution

Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Hattan Bahebri replaces Salem Al Dawsari.

Goal!

Goal! Germany 2, Saudi Arabia 1. Taiseer Al Jassam (Saudi Arabia) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mohammed Al Sahlawi following a set piece situation.

Penalty saved! Mohammed Al Sahlawi (Saudi Arabia) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the centre of the goal.

Penalty conceded by Sami Khedira (Germany) after a foul in the penalty area.

Penalty Saudi Arabia. Taiseer Al Jassam draws a foul in the penalty area.

Substitution

Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Ali Albulayhi replaces Osama Hawsawi.

Attempt missed. Mohammed Al Sahlawi (Saudi Arabia) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is too high.

Substitution

Substitution, Germany. Matthias Ginter replaces Joshua Kimmich.

Corner, Germany. Conceded by Omar Hawsawi.

Attempt blocked. Yahya Al Shehri (Saudi Arabia) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mohammed Al-Burayk.

Foul by Joshua Kimmich (Germany).

Salem Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Sami Khedira (Germany).

Yahya Al Shehri (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Toni Kroos (Germany) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Salman Al Faraj (Saudi Arabia).

Attempt missed. Julian Brandt (Germany) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Mario Gomez with a cross.

Substitution

Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Hussain Al-Mogahwi replaces Abdullah Ateef.

Substitution

Substitution, Germany. Julian Brandt replaces Thomas Müller.

Corner, Germany. Conceded by Abdullah Al-Mayoof.

Attempt saved. Thomas Müller (Germany) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mario Gomez.

Corner, Saudi Arabia. Conceded by Niklas Süle.

Ilkay Gündogan (Germany) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Abdullah Ateef (Saudi Arabia).

Attempt saved. Julian Draxler (Germany) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Joshua Kimmich (Germany) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Abdullah Ateef (Saudi Arabia).

Attempt missed. Yahya Al Shehri (Saudi Arabia) left footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Mohammed Al Sahlawi.

Foul by Ilkay Gündogan (Germany).

Salem Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Offside, Saudi Arabia. Yasir Al Shahrani tries a through ball, but Salem Al Dawsari is caught offside.

goal