Brazil win 1-0 in Berlin to end Germany’s unbeaten run

AP, Berlin :
Brazil defeated Germany 1-0 on Tuesday to end the World Cup champion’s 22-game unbeaten run and restore some lost pride following the humiliating mismatch between the sides in their previous meeting.
Gabriel Jesus’ first-half header settled the friendly and provided his side with a welcome confidence boost some three months before the World Cup. In the absence of the injured Neymar, Brazil didn’t concede during the international break as it also defeated Russia 3-0 in Moscow.
Though Brazil coach Tite said before the game in Berlin’s Olympiastadion that revenge for the side’s 7-1 loss in the 2014 World Cup semifinal was not in his players’ minds, he acknowledged there was no getting over the result.
“The wound is still open,” Tite told Kicker magazine in an interview. “My wife started crying after the third goal.”
Counterpart Joachim Loew made seven changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Spain on Friday – the team’s third consecutive draw – with Kevin Trapp playing in place of Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal. Jerome Boateng led the side for the first time as captain in his hometown. Hertha Berlin defender Marvin Plattenhardt also started.
Jesus made the breakthrough seven minutes before the interval when Trapp flapped at his powerful but centrally positioned header and allowed the ball go in. Willian’s cross came in at pace and Jesus was just five meters from goal, but the goalkeeper was in position to make the save.
Jesus had missed a good chance minutes earlier when he left two Germany defenders sprawling on a counterattack and then fired over with only the goalkeeper to beat.