Despite leading twice against England, Germany's under-21 side were pegged back and beaten 3-2 by their hosts. A Philipp Hofmann brace, either side of Jesse Lingard's well-taken goal, looked to have won the game for Horst Hrubesch's side. However, a late show from England turned the tide. Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse's late strikes won a thrilling game in Middlesbrough, sending a 30,000 strong crowd home happy.
England were in fine fettle following a 0-1 win over the Czech Republic on Friday evening, as the European Championship drew ever closer. Tom Carroll scored the only goal, though Gareth Southgate was keen to give a host of new faces a run out. Marcus Bettinelli, Calum Chambers, Liam Moore, Will Keane, Matthew Targett, Carroll, Alex Pritchard and Cauley Woodrow were replaced by Jonathan Bond, Carl Jenkinson, John Stones, Ben Gibson, Luke Garbutt, Will Hughes, Jesse Lingard and Danny Ings.
Their visitors also played on Friday, though they were held to a 2-2 draw by Italy. Horst Hrubesch, like Southgate, made a similar amount of alterations. Bernd Leno, Nico Schulz, Willi Orban, Johannes Geis, Yunus Malli, Kevin Volland and Joshua Kimmich dropped out and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Christian Günter, Robin Knoche, Julian Korb, Emre Can, Max Meyer and Philipp Hofmann all earned starting spots.
Despite the rivalry between the two sides, the opening was far from frantic and both sides failed to grab the early momentum. Germany were enjoying the best of the possession though it was largely between Matthias Ginter and Knoche.
While the initial ten minutes was far from special, the exact opposite could be said Hofmann's opening goal. Some lovely play down the left-hand side allowed Amin Younes to cross towards the Kaiserslautern striker. Hofmann controlled the ball brilliantly before rifling home a brilliant left-footed half-volley from the edge of the box. Jonathan Bond was a mere spectator, as the forward wheeled away in celebration.
England were quite quiet in attack until Nathan Redmond picked out Lingard at the back post, although ter Stegen was out quickly to close down the angle and make the block. The goal had sparked the home crowd into life but the Germans were holding back the English advances well.
The Barcelona stopper was called into action by Danny Ings just after the half-hour mark. Ings shot low to his left, but ter Stegen was equal to the task. The resulting corner forced him to make an even better reaction save from Gibson's bullet header.
There was nothing he could do about Jesse Lingard's effort, as England levelled the game. A brilliant, meaningful run from Jenkinson gave him time on the edge of the box and when the West Ham loanee found Lingard, he swept the ball into the bottom corner. It was a more than deserved goal following England's period of pressure and a well worked one at that.
All their hard work could have been undone moments later, however. Can struck a brilliant 20-yard free-kick which was well-saved by Bond, though Younes drove a rather simple rebound well wide and the hosts were able to breathe a sigh of relief. The sides traded half chances, though both went in level as the half-time whistle blew.
Germany made two changes at half-time, bring on Serge Gnabry and Joshua Kimmich for Leonardo Bittencourt and Moritz Leitner. It wasn't long until the changes paid dividends either. A great ball from the marauding Julian Korb found Hofmann with a great cross and he made no mistake, who slid the ball underneath Bond from four yards out.
England failed to test ter Stegen and were restricted to hopeful long range efforts. Alex Pritchard, a specialist when it comes to the spectacular from outside the box, replaced Hughes midway through the half. Nico Schulz came on for an unusually quiet Max Meyer, as the heavens opened at the Riverside.
Schulz had a strong penalty appeal waved away by referee Davide Massa, before Gnabry and Gibson wasted great opportunities to add to the goal-tally. Redmond, a constant menace, then had his long-range drive saved by ter Stegen, with the 30,000 strong crowd willing on their young guns.
That was a sign of things to come and the Norwich winger brought England level. He picked the ball up on the edge of the box and, with the aid of a deflection, snuck the ball off the inside of the post. Moments later James Ward-Prowse's smart finish, following some great play from Jenkinson, left ter Stegen stranded and the hosts victorious.
The game finished 3-2, despite Germany's best efforts to find a late equaliser. Although it was a result that mattered little, several players will have forced themselves into the reckoning of their respective coaches.
All attentions will now turn back to club football for both sides, though the trip to the Czech Republic in the summer will always be at the back of the youngsters' minds.