Germany 3-1 Belgium
Belgium proved to be no challenge for Germany on Tuesday night as Joachim Low’s men recorded a 3-1 victory to finish top of Group A of the Euro 2012 qualifiers with ten wins from ten games.
Mesut Ozil and Andre Schurrle hit the Red Devils with a three-minute double salvo midway through the first half to give the DFB-Eleven a two-goal cushion at half-time.
Shortly after the restart Mario Gomez put the cherry on the cake as he added a third goal with a fine strike, which left Simon Mignolet with no chance.
Marouane Fellaini scored a consolation for the Red Devils just before the final whistle as his team missed out on the play-off spot in the group.
Belgium started the game very well as they tried to pressure Germany’s back four right from the beginning. The hosts, however, defended valiantly as they managed to contain the Red Devils, whose desperate attempts to breaks the DFB-team’s rearguard were leaving them exposed on the break.
Schurrle tried his luck, but narrowly missed in the 15th minute, and moments before that the lively Laurent Ciman had a couple of shots fly over Manuel Neuer’s bar. Germany were looking increasingly dangerous on the counter, and soon took the lead.
In the 30th minute Gomez was released in a one-on-one with Mignolet, but was denied by the goalkeeper. However, the ball made its way to Ozil, who powered a superb shot from outside the box, which hit the bar before nesting in the net.
Germany did not stop there as three minutes later a quick break saw Gomez release Schurrle on the left flank. The Bayer Leverkusen attacker made a superb 20-yard run before lifting the ball over the goalkeeper to make it 2-0.
Belgium tried to fight back in the remaining minutes to half-time, but the closest they got to scoring was forcing a superb save from Neuer just before the break through Jan Vertonghen.
In the second period the DFB-Eleven picked up right where they left off as Gomez hit the Red Devils with a third right after the restart.
The striker was picked out by Ozil on the edge of the box, superbly managed to neutralise Vincent Kompany, and finished off with a powerful shot in the right corner.
Belgium, visibly disgruntled by the result, lacked incisiveness in attack and rarely threatened to claw a goal back. Germany were content to sit back and soak up the pressure, waiting for a chance on the counter.
Substitute Romeu Lukaku nearly netter in the 70th minute as he managed to shake off Mats Hummels, and sent a magnificent left-footed shot, which Neuer parried superbly.
Belgium did get a goal in the 86th minute through Fellaini, who headed in at the near post, following a corner on the left. This striker, however, proved to be a mere consolation as the game ended 3-1.
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