Seven up for Germany with Cyprus stroll
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
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Cyprus 0-3 Germany
Pierre-Michelle Lasogga, İlkay Gündoğan and Maximilian Beister secured yet another win for the Group 1 leaders who are 11 points clear of their nearest rivals in the section.
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The runaway Group 1 leaders Germany made it seven straight wins in UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying by beating Cyprus 3-0 in Paralimni.
Undeterred by the slippery conditions caused by a pre-match downpour, Rainer Adrion's visitors dominated from the off and took a 19th-minute lead when Pierre-Michelle Lasogga headed in from Alexander Esswein's cross.
Germany captain Lewis Holtby established a strangehold on midfield alongside İlkay Gündoğan, although he was less successful in front of goal, missing the target twice with just Kyriakos Ioannou to beat before half-time.
That profligacy almost cost Germany when Stefan Bell came close to turning Emilios Panagiotou's free-kick past his own goalkeeper, but instead the visitors wrapped up the points soon after with Holtby setting up Gündoğan to score after a quick counter in the 72nd minute.
Gündoğan turned provider with the through ball that led to substitute Maximilian Beister firing in a third goal in added time that takes his team's goal difference to an impressive +26.