Germany 5-1 Wales: Gemma Grainger's side suffer heavy Nations League loss

Germany thrashed Wales 5-1 in Sinsheim as Gemma Grainger's side conceded five goals for the second successive Nations League game.

Germany created a barrage of first-half chances and led through Lea Schuller's 25th-minute header.

Wales somehow went into the break level through Ceri Holland's close-range finish, but could not hold on.

The hosts retook the lead through Schuller's header and scored three further goals in the final 10 minutes.

Giulia Gwinn crashed home an 80th-minute penalty before Sjoeke Nusken's deflected effort made it 4-1, and substitute Nicole Anyomi scored within seconds of her introduction.

The result was no less than Germany deserved after they showed their strength in a fine performance where they created chance after chance.

Wales are next in action in Denmark on Tuesday

Wales were on the defensive for virtually the whole game but can take heart at least from managing to convert the one clear-cut chance that they created.

Grainger's side were looking to bounce back from a disappointing start to their campaign, with a 5-1 defeat to Denmark following a 1-0 loss in Iceland leaving them bottom of their group as they strive to avoid relegation from league A of the inaugural women's Nations League.

However, the hosts, who lost to Denmark before thrashing Iceland, are also in a bad moment by their own lofty standards, having bowed out of the World Cup in the group stage before losing their opening Nations League game against Denmark.

On paper, this seemed a good time to play Germany, but you certainly would not have known it in an opening 25 minutes where the hosts created chance after chance and had over 80% possession.

Laura Freigang might have opened the scoring from close range on five minutes but fired wide, before Sarai Linder just missed the target after cutting inside.

Kayleigh Green produced a superb block on the line to deny Gwinn's header, while Linder then hit the side-netting from close range and Lena Oberdorf fired over, with Germany producing half-a-dozen genuine chances inside the opening 20 minutes.

The pressure eventually overwhelmed Wales who conceded on 25 minutes when Schuller headed home from Linder's pinpoint cross, taking advantage of some static Wales defending.

The goal was the least Germany deserved and they should have extended their lead, with Freigang firing over and then missing a golden chance as she raced clear, only to see Wales goalkeeper Olivia Clark deny her with an outstretched boot.

Ceri Holland equalised for Wales in the first half

That miss surprisingly proved pivotal as Wales somehow went in level as they equalised on the stroke of half-time with a beautifully crafted goal.

Jess Fishlock drove forward and found captain Sophie Ingle whose pinpoint cross was deftly flicked on by Angharad James into the path of Holland, who finished emphatically from close range.

The goal - as much as it was against the run of play - was significant for Wales, their first goal against Germany in five games, having conceded 34 times in the previous four encounters.

If Wales needed a reminder that Germany remain a titan of the game it arrived within two minutes of the restart as the visitors again failed to cut out a cross as substitute Linda Dollman picked out Schuller who added her second.

That again set up a period of Wales desperately defending, with Klara Buhl's header saved by Clark, who also got down well at her near post to deny a 20-yard shot from the forward.

Germany were relentless with Linder volleying just wide with a fine effort and Clark was again called into action as she bravely rushed off her line to deny Nusken.

The Bristol City goalkeeper - who made her Women's Super League debut against Arsenal last weekend - kept Wales in the contest, with Green heading wide on 69 minutes from a rare foray forward.

However, Germany finished the contest strongly, with Hayley Ladd producing an amazing clearance off the line to keep the score at 2-1 before Schuller hit the post with a header chasing a hat-trick.

Germany's third goal finally arrived on 80 minutes as Ingle fouled Marina Hegering and Gwinn crashed a penalty in off the crossbar.

Unfortunately for Wales, the third goal saw them again lose their defensive shape, just as they did against Denmark.

Wales disintegrated in the closing exchanges as Nusken's shot deflected in and Anyomi bundled home from close-range.

It might have got even worse for Wales but Clark - their standout performer - stood up well to deny Schuller a hat-trick as Wales limited Germany to five goals in a contest where they produced over 30 shots.

Wales boss Gemma Grainger

"It's a tough one to take, the penalty in the 80th minute is tough to take, we were 2-1 against Germany with 10 minutes to... I know the result is identical to Denmark, but the performance was better.

"There are positives to take from the game, but the outcome was not one of them.

"The reality of playing games like this is it is extremely tough.

"I was really happy with our goal, it was a great goal, but the reality is we are hurting because our performance was for 80 minutes.

"As soon as the game opens up, it is going to be difficult. What we have to do is learn lessons from it ahead of Tuesday."