Italy conceded a humiliating goal in their 3-3 draw with Germany in the Nations League quarter-final second leg, as the Azzurri were caught off guard during a corner.
With Germany leading 1-0 in Dortmund, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a solid save, tipping Tim Kleindienst’s header over the bar for a corner. However, Donnarumma then wandered outside his six-yard box, arguing with his teammates, leaving the defense completely distracted. Seizing the opportunity, Joshua Kimmich quickly took the corner, sending a low ball to the unmarked Jamal Musiala, who calmly fired into an empty net.
The strange goal stood as a player cannot be offside during a corner kick, and it also introduced a new hero: 15-year-old ball boy Noel Urbaniack. Urbaniack, who had assisted Kimmich by swiftly providing the ball for the goal, was rewarded with a signed football from the German team. “It’s unbelievable. I’ve never been involved in something like that,” said Urbaniack with a smile. “We had brief eye contact. I saw he wanted the ball, so I quickly threw it to him. It was my first time as a ball boy.”
Earlier in the match, Kimmich had opened the scoring with a penalty in the 30th minute, followed by Musiala’s goal just six minutes later. Kleindienst made it 3-0 just before halftime. Despite Italy’s second-half comeback, which saw former Everton striker Moise Kean score twice and Giacomo Raspadori convert a 95th-minute penalty, the draw wasn’t enough for them to progress.
Germany advanced 5-4 on aggregate, sending them through to the Nations League finals in June, which they will host.
