The Lazio star's record-equalling strike, along goals
from Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller ensured that Joachim Low's men recorded a
straightforward win over their neighbours
Germany took a massive stride towards sealing
qualification for the World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Austria in Munich on
Friday.
The hosts took the lead through Lazio striker Miroslav
Klose's first-half strike, the 68th of his international career, as the veteran
equalled Gerd Muller's long-standing goalscoring record for the Mannschaft.
Austria came out for the second half in a determined mood
and they almost pulled level only for Toni Kroos to effectively end their hopes
just six minutes after half-time, while Thomas Muller added one for good
measure in the final moments.
The visitors' last win over Germany came in 1986 and that
drought looked like continuing from the start, with the hosts unlucky not to go
two goals ahead within the opening 10 minutes as Sami Khedira curled a
right-footed shot just wide from the left before Klose hit the side netting
from a narrow angle after a Christian Fuchs error.
Muller and Philipp Lahm - who was earning his 100th cap
for Germany - were proving a troublesome partnership down the right, but after
the 15th minute Low's side were finding it more difficult to break through the
Austrian defence as their final ball generally disappointed.
After wasting two more chances just before the half-hour
mark, Germany took the lead in the 33rd minute as Muller produced a dangerous
cross from the right and Klose jumped in front of Aleksandar Dragovic to poke
the ball into the net.
The visitors hardly attacked in the first half but they
should have drawn level within one minute of the restart as David Alaba broke
forward with purpose before playing a through-ball into the area for Andreas
Weimann, but he could only fire over.
Austria's excellent start to the second half was
encouraging, but the ruthless Germans were not in a forgiving mood and they
doubled their lead in the 51st minute as Kroos hammered a powerful shot past
Robert Almer from range after Marco Reus' lay-off.
Muller almost added a third for Low's team soon after,
but after reaching Mesut Ozil's inviting delivery to the back post he could
only hit his shot straight at Almer.
The hosts looked good for their lead, but Austria were
not going to let their opponents run all over them and they nearly pulled one
back just before the 70th minute when Martin Harnik volleyed a corner back into
the area only for Manuel Neuer to deny Dragovic.
Germany, who looked relatively comfortable throughout,
added a third in the final moments of regulation time as Benedikt Howedes
squared for Muller to tap in from close range.
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