Germany share spoils with Netherlands in thrilling draw

The Netherlands and Germany played to a 2-2 draw in an exciting, fast-paced UEFA Nations League match in Amsterdam on Tuesday night.

It's safe to say Julian Nagelsmann's side got off on the wrong foot, as the Netherlands opened the scores after just two minutes.

The German defense was caught too high up the pitch when Ryan Gravenberch slipped a through ball to Tijani Reijnders, who slotted the ball through the legs of Marc-André ter Stegen.

Germany's first real chance of the evening came in the 12th minute when Kai Havertz shot wide from a promising position.

Despite trailing in possession, the Netherlands continued to create chances at the other end and could have easily made it 2-0 in the 15th minute when Denzel Dumfries headed wide from a free-kick.

Six minutes later, Gravenberch played another wonderful through ball behind the German defense, this time for Xavi Simons, but the RB Leipzig man was denied by ter Stegen.

In the 38th minute, Germany struck back through Deniz Undav, who scored his first goal in a Germany shirt. Germany won possession high up the pitch and got the ball to Florian Wirtz, who was denied by Bert Verbruggen. The ball fell to Undav, who left the Dutch goalkeeper helpless.

Just before half-time, Germany took the lead, and Undav was involved once again. This time the Stuttgart striker squared the ball across goal to captain Joshua Kimmich, who slotted the ball into an open net.

The lead didn't last long, however, as the Netherlands equalized six minutes into the second half through Denzel Dumfries. Brian Brobbey was given too much freedom by Nico Schlotterbeck and squared the ball across goal to Dumfries, who found the back of the net for a goal much like Kimmich's in the first half.

Kai Havertz came close to answering immediately for Germany, but couldn't find the target from close range.

At the other end, ter Stegen was forced into a good save to keep out an effort from Ryan Gravenberch in the 57th minute.

As the second half wore on, some of the zip seemed to go out of the game and chances were fewer.

David Raum could have restored Germany's lead in the 71st minute, but he couldn't keep his header down after a delightful cross from Havertz.

Ultimately, the match ended in a 2-2 draw, leaving both sides on four points after two games in Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League's League A. Germany remain top of the group thanks to a slightly better goal difference.