Germany within a point of progress

Germany moved within touching distance of a place in the 2004/05 UEFA European Under-19 Championship with a second successive victory in Elite round Group 2, defeating the Netherlands 2-0 in Uherské Hradište.

Stakes high
With both teams having won their opening round of fixtures on Saturday - the Germans defeating Croatia 3-0 while the Dutch were 2-0 winners against mini-tournament hosts the Czech Republic - the stakes were high for today's game at the Stonky stadium. Both sets of players knew that the winners would take a huge step towards the July finals in Northern Ireland.

Kukukovic breakthrough
In the event, neither side managed to make a breakthrough in the first 45 minutes, with the match goalless at the break. However, just two minutes into the second period Ulli Stielike's side broke through, Hamburger SV forward Mustafa Kukukovic - also on target against the Croatians - opening the scoring.

Dejagah clincher
The points were clinched 17 minutes from time, Hertha BSC Berlin striker Aschkan Dejagah doubling Germany's advantage. It was not all good news for Stielike, however, as Kukukovic and Markus Heppke are likely to miss the decisive fixture against the Czech Republic on Wednesday through injury while Eugen Polanski and Dennis Aogo are suspended after being booked today. The Germans need a point in Zlín to guarantee their progress, while the Dutch must defeat Croatia to have any chance of progressing.