Germany and Chile advance in Fifa Confederations Cup

Germans, earned a semi-final date with Mexico on Thursday.

WORLD champions Germany and South American giants Chile have secured their passage to the semi-finals of this year’s Fifa Confederations Cup.

Both sides sat level on four points heading into the last group stage fixture, with Die Mannschaft taking on African champions Cameroon and the Chileans facing off against Australia.

Africa’s most successful side in the competition were unable to match their European counterparts, despite keeping them at bay in the first stanza, yet found themselves a goal down 47 minutes in as Kerem Demirbay let fly from range to grab the opener with a powerful effort into the top corner.

Following Ernest Mabouka’s red card on 64 minutes, Germany doubled their lead through Timo Werner two minutes later to take full control of the game. Vincent Aboubakar manaed to halve the deficit, only for Werner to grab his brace – the first from a German player in this competition – to secure a 3-1 win for the Germans, who have earned a semi-final date with Mexico on Thursday.

In the group’s other match-up, Australia took a surprise lead thanks to James Troisi’s 42nd-minute effort, yet the South Americans restored parity thanks to Martin Rodriguez midway through the second half, the 1-1 draw ensuring they finished second in Group B.

The Chileans now face Euro 2016 champions Portugal in their last four showdown on Wednesday. –Kickoff.com