Germany maintain perfect record
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Article summary
Kazakhstan 0-3 Germany
Joachim Löw's team made it four wins out of four in Group A with three second-half goals in Astana.
Article top media content
Article body
Second-half goals from Miroslav Klose, Mario Gómez and Lukas Podolski helped Germany to a fourth successive victory in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group A and left Kazakhstan still seeking their first point.
Klose broke the resistance of the well-organised, disciplined home side three minutes after half-time with his sixth goal of what is shaping up to be another prolific campaign. The FC Bayern München striker suffered a thigh injury soon after, however, and was replaced by club-mate Gómez, who doubled the lead before Podolski added a third five minutes from time.
Joachim Löw's visitors – unchanged from Friday's win against Turkey fashioned the first chance after six minutes when Klose's solo run resulted in the ball falling for Podolski, who shot over. Thomas Müller then failed to score from a tight angle and Klose's header cleared the crossbar as Kazakhstan seemed content to concede territory and possession to their opponents.
Toni Kroos's effort which was parried by Andrei Sidelnikov was the best the visitors could muster until shortly before the break when Sami Khedira threatened with two headers, the second of which hit the top of the crossbar. The breakthrough arrived after 48 minutes, however, as Mesut Özil's pass inside from the left found Podolski, who set up Klose for his 58th international goal.
Kazakhstan responded with the lively Heinrich Schmidtgal narrowly missing the top corner, and then forcing Manuel Neuer into his only save of the night with a fierce left-footed drive. Müller then fired over after being set clear by Özil, a miss which almost proved costly when Schmidtgal set up Sergei Khizhnichenko, who failed to connect cleanly when well placed on the penalty spot.
Gómez quelled any hopes Kazakhstan had of claiming a famous result when he finished off Podolski's through ball on 76 minutes. Provider turned scorer late on by surging past several defenders and beating Sidelnikov with a low shot.