Kai Havertz rescues 3-3 draw for Germany vs Ukraine, game proceeds for Russia-Ukraine war victims

Bremen: Kai Havertz helped Germany earn a 3-3 draw with Ukraine in a game that didn’t please either team on Monday. Viktor Tshankov scored twice for Ukraine in Serhiy Rebrov’s debut as coach to take a 3–1 lead, setting up his country’s first win over Germany.

But Havertz pulled one back in the 83rd and was then fouled for a penalty which Joshua Kimmich converted in stoppage time to equalise. The German Football Federation was donating the proceeds to victims of Russia’s war in Ukraine. The match was also billed as the federation’s 1,000th match, but the team’s performance would do little to restore battered German confidence a year before the country was due to host the European Championship.

The buildup was influenced by the war in Ukraine, with both teams being fielded by children who had fled their countries to escape the invasion. Every arriving player was wrapped in the flag of Ukraine. The teams posed for separate photos – with Ukraine in front of another giant blue and yellow flag – before German and Ukrainian players posed for a composite photo behind a banner bearing the word “peace”.

The German players also had a peace symbol on their jersey arms. Niklas Fulkrug, playing at his home stadium, was presented with a great chance in the second minute by Mykhailo Mudrić, but the Werder Bremen forward missed and only beat the goalkeeper.

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— Kai Havertz (@kaihavertz29) June 12, 2023

Fulkrug was credited with the opening goal in the sixth when he deflected Anatoly Trubin’s shot past Marius Wolff into the visitors’ goal. Germany missed more good chances against the unorganized visitors before Tsehankov equalized in the 19th off a rebound.

Mudrić forced an Antonio Rudiger own goal to make it 2–1 four minutes later, much to the delight of the visiting supporters. Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Oleksiy Makeyev celebrated with restraint next to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who smiled and extended his hand to greet him.

Buoyed by the goals, Ukraine pushed for more before the home team recovered. But it was a typical Germany performance of late – seemingly in control, creating chances, yet prone to costly mistakes.

Coach Hansi Flick reacted by bringing on Havertz and Lukas Klostermann for the second half, but changed little. Artem Dovibek made another mistake in the 56th to set up Tshankov for the third goal.

Further German mistakes caused some of the crowd to whistle. They were finally given reason to cheer when Rudiger sent a long ball forward for Havertz to score.

Havertz was fouled after pushing for the equalizer and Germany captain Kimmich made no mistake from the spot.