Andreas Lampropoulos celebrates scoring Greece's winning goal (©sportsfile)Final the reward for determined Greece
Tuesday 24 July 2007by Paul Woloszynfrom Vorwärts Stadion
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PrintTen-man Greece earned a place in the final of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship for the first time as Andreas Lampropoulos headed in a last-minute corner for a 3-2 victory against Germany in Steyr.
Late winner
Despite playing the last third of the match with ten men after Vassilis Pliatsikas was sent off, Lampropoulos added to goals from Sotiris Ninis (40) and Kostas Mitroglou (58) to cancel out Anis Ben-Hatira's strike in either half for Germany and set up a final meeting with either France or holders Spain, who meet in Pasching in the second semi-final, on Friday.
Changes
Germany, bidding for a first final since 2002, made two changes from the starting lineup which accounted for Serbia in Saturday's final group game, Max Kruse and Daniel Schwaab coming in on either wing. Greece also made two alterations as George Siakas and Dimitrious Siovas made way for Georgios Ioannidis and Elin Dimoutsos, back from suspension. As Matthias Sammer watched on from the stands, Group B winners Germany started strongly but took 19 minutes to trouble Kyriakos Stratilatis in the Greece goal, Manuel Konrad's thunderbolt fizzing just over from 20 metres before Sebastian Tyrala screwed an effort narrowly wide.
Ben-Hatira goal
With 25 minutes on the clock Germany did get the reward their endeavour deserved. The skilful Tyrala, with his striking resemblance to German great Thomas Hässler, cleverly lifted the ball to Ben-Hatira from the right and the man who had been an injury doubt before kick-off showed great composure to slide it under Stratilatis after outfoxing two defenders. It was only the second goal a stoic Greece had conceded in the tournament.
Ninis leveller
Now behind, Nikolaos Nioplias's side were forced to be more adventurous and they ended the first half on top. Twice Martin Männel needed a second attempt before claiming long-range efforts by Giannis Papadopoulos and Pliatsikas before Greece worked an equaliser five minutes before the break. Germany's defence had done well to get bodies in the way of two Mitroglou shots but could not prevent a third, from Ninis, sliding into the bottom-corner.
Turnaround
Greece began the second half as they had ended the first and may have taken the lead ten minutes in when Papadopoulos's cross-shot from the left landed on top of the net with Männel desperately scrambling back. The second goal duly arrived three minutes later, Mitroglou hit a volley into the ground and over Männel for his third goal of the finals after Ninis had flicked on a cross from the surging Michail Boukouvalas.
Late drama
Moments later Greece found themselves down to ten men when Pliatsikas was shown a second yellow card, leaving him banned for the final along with Sokratis Papastathopoulos. It took Germany just four minutes to take advantage as Ben-Hatira scored his second from the penalty spot following a foul on substitute Sidney Sam. It would be Greece who would have the final say, though, as Lampropoulos rose ahead of Daniel Schwaab to head in a corner with Männel stranded and end Germany's challenge.
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