World Cup bronze medalists Germany confirmed their leadership of Euro 2012 qualifying Group A with a confident 3-0 (0-0) win over hosts Kazakhstan on Tuesday.
Miroslav Klose, second-half substitute Mario Gomez and Lukas Podolski scored one apiece to maintain Germany's perfect record: 12 points from four matches.
Lacking accuracy in front
The hosts started in lively fashion, seeking an early opener but their attempts were fruitless. Germany replied positively, pinning their rivals back and threatening through Podolski, Thomas Müller and Klose. Even so, their pressure was to no immediate avail as the visitors lacked accuracy in front of Kazakhstan's net.
Sami Khedira and Mesut Özil had chances shortly before the break but the hosts' keeper Andrei Sidelnikov, the most overworked player on the pitch, repelled everything thrown at him in the opening period.
Klose breaks the deadlock
But three minutes after the interval Sidelnikov was unable to keep out a precise shot by Germany's sharpshooter Klose, who broke the deadlock by firing home following a precise through ball from Podolski.
In the 76th minute Gomez, who replaced Klose, made it 2-0, netting after a one-two combination with Podolski to banish any fears of a shock. Podolski rounded off the scoring, sending the ball home past a helpless Sidelnikov following a piece of good individual work with five minutes to go.
[js]
[bild1]
World Cup bronze medalists Germany confirmed their leadership of Euro 2012 qualifying Group A with a confident 3-0 (0-0) win over hosts Kazakhstan on Tuesday.
Miroslav Klose, second-half substitute Mario Gomez and Lukas Podolski scored one apiece to maintain Germany's perfect record: 12 points from four matches.
Lacking accuracy in front
The hosts started in lively fashion, seeking an early opener but their attempts were fruitless. Germany replied positively, pinning their rivals back and threatening through Podolski, Thomas Müller and Klose. Even so, their pressure was to no immediate avail as the visitors lacked accuracy in front of Kazakhstan's net.
Sami Khedira and Mesut Özil had chances shortly before the break but the hosts' keeper Andrei Sidelnikov, the most overworked player on the pitch, repelled everything thrown at him in the opening period.
Klose breaks the deadlock
[bild2]
But three minutes after the interval Sidelnikov was unable to keep out a precise shot by Germany's sharpshooter Klose, who broke the deadlock by firing home following a precise through ball from Podolski.
In the 76th minute Gomez, who replaced Klose, made it 2-0, netting after a one-two combination with Podolski to banish any fears of a shock. Podolski rounded off the scoring, sending the ball home past a helpless Sidelnikov following a piece of good individual work with five minutes to go.
