SINSHEIM, Germany (AP) Nico Schulz scored late on his debut to give Germany a 2-1 win over Peru in their friendly game on Sunday.
[ MORE: France tops Holland behind late Giroud goal ]
The Hoffenheim midfielder, making his first international appearance in the club’s stadium, claimed the winner through a slightly deflected shot with five minutes remaining.
The 25-year-old Schulz, one of three new call-ups to the squad, was only playing as Germany coach Joachim Loew assesses his options following the team’s failed World Cup defense.
Loew had kept changes to a minimum when his cautious team was held to a 0-0 draw by France in their UEFA Nations League opener in Munich on Thursday.
Against Peru, Germany dominated the first half but fell behind in the 22nd minute to a strike from Luis Advincula, who beat Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen at the near post.
Julian Brandt provided the response, dinking the ball over Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese after Toni Kroos had played him in.
Peru captain Jefferson Farfan should have scored in the second half when he only had the goalkeeper to beat, but the former Schalke winger shot over the goal.
Loew brought on Paris Saint-Germain defender Thilo Kehrer with about 20 minutes remaining and Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz in the final minutes, but Schulz was the only one of the three new faces to enjoy a dream debut.
While Peru was without captain Paolo Guerrero due to a doping ban, Germany was playing without Mats Hummels because of an ankle problem and Leroy Sane due to the birth of his daughter on Friday.
---
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
