Azerbaijan 1-3 Germany: Ozil, Gomez and Schurrle ensure seventh straight win in Euro 2012 qualifiers - 7M sport

Azerbaijan 1-3 Germany: Ozil, Gomez and Schurrle ensure seventh straight win in Euro 2012 qualifiers



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Posted Wednesday, June 08, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

Germanycontinued its perfect Euro 2012 qualification record as it secured a 3-1 victory over Azerbaijan in Baku.

Goals before halftime from Mesut Ozil and Mario Gomez gave it a seventh consecutive win in the group and left the future of Azerbaijan's German coach Berti Vogts hanging by a thread. Mused Huseynov pulled a consolation goal back in the closing stages before Andre Schurrle's bagged a third for the visitors in stoppage time.

Joachim Low's men shrugged off a sluggish beginning to take the lead on the half hour after a sustained spell of pressure. Benedikt Howedes did well to keep the ball in on the right-hand side. His cut-back evaded the tall figure of Mario Gomez at the near post, however, it was retrieved by Mesut Ozil. Despite a difficult angle, the Real Madrid star found the corner of the net with an excellent finish for his fourth international goal.

After the first goal, Germany underlined its superiority by dominating proceedings and a second arrived four minutes prior to the break. Ozil latched onto an excellent through pass from Holger Badstuber and he squared the ball into the centre of the box, where Mario Gomez was on hand to blast home beyond a helpless Kamran Agayev. The Bayern Munich striker has now scored in four successive internationals.

Azerbaijan got a goal back just over two minutes from the end and it was no more than they deserved for its spirit and persistence. Germany switched off at the back with a comedy of errors and substitute striker Mused Huseynov swept the ball home from close range to cap an impressive cameo performance. However, Andre Schurrle added a third deep in stoppage time after Mario Gotze had teed up Gomez for the initial shot; the Mainz man put home the rebound.

The Azeris had the first sight of goal when Aleksandr Chertoganov received the ball 25 yards from goal before fizzing his drive narrowly wide of Neuer in the German goal. Vugar Nadirov struck the bar in the tenth minute after Germany gave the ball away carelessly inside their own third. Germany were taking time to come to terms with a new back four and the home team's pressing.

Germany began to get into its stride on 18 minutes when Toni Kroos struck the post with a well-hit freekick, having won the set-piece himself with an enterprising run at the Azeri defence out of nothing. Kroos threatened once again on 28 minutes when his shot was beaten away by Kamran Agayev. After Germany's double salvo, Chertoganov then spurned an opportunity to put his team back in the game when he fired over just before the break.

Although penned in its own half for long periods, the home side had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside on 64 minutes. Vugar Nadirov was flagged for offside despite being level with the last defender and the winger then received a booking for stroking the ball into the net. Five minutes later, Gomez breached the offside trap but was brilliantly denied by Agayev as he tried to round the goalkeeper.

Germany now have seven wins from seven games at the top of Group A. Three points in its next game against Austria will secure the top spot in the group. Azerbaijan are above bottom side Kazakhstan on goals scored and have a mere three points after six games.



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