September 07, 2012: World Cup 2014 Qualifier, Group C:
Germany - Faroe Islands 3-0 (1-0)
27' 1-0 Mario Götze
53' 2-0 Mesut Özil
71' 3-0 Mesut Özil
It seemed like Germany created chances almost at will from the start of the game, and only a combination of poor finishing and great goalkeeping from Gunnar Nielsen kept Germany at bay for 26 minutes.
Nielsen made a fabulous "spread-eagle save" to deny a clear Miroslav Klose after 7 minutes and on 18 minutes it was close, but no cigar for Klose again as he headed over from close range.
Moments later Nielsen again saved from a clear German, whose finish was very poor however. And the minute after Nielsen made another fabulous reflex-save from a close range effort.
And on 25 minutes Klose completed his hat trick of missed when he finished right on Nielsen.
But on 27 minutes the luck was up for the Faroes, but this time from an attack that shouldn’t have become fatal. Mario Götze wasn’t challenged outside the penalty area, a bit to the left, and he was allowed to cruise through the defence before he cut across and then fired low with a well placed shot just inside the left post.
Klose fired over again on 36 minutes and just before the half time whistle, Nielsen tipped a Thomas Müller header over.
The Faroe Islands had no attempt on goal during the first 45 minutes.
Seven minutes after the restart, Germany doubled their advantage after a Faroese corner! Yep, that’s amateurs against professionals. Germany countered from the corner down the right hand side where Müller put in the cross for a clear Mesut Özil to volley home from close range.
Germany weren’t quite a threatening in the second half, but on 65 minutes Nielsen made yet another great save when he stretched to divert a flat shot from Özil around the post.
But Özil, who played a marvellous match, wasn’t to be denied on 71 minutes when the Faroes carelessly gave away the ball 15 metres outside their own penalty area. Özil was played clear and finished between the legs of a chanceless goalkeeper to make it 3-0.
The Faroes had one qualified attempt throughout the match after a well worked move with several combinations on 81 minutes when Hjalgrím Elttør, who had come on 10 minutes earlier, tried from long range and Manuel Neuer had to make two attempts to save the effort.
The Faroes play their next match at home against Sweden on 12 October. Germany visits Austria on Tuesday.