ECUADOR 0-3 GERMANY

Germany sealed top spot in Group A in impressive style, with a Miroslav Klose brace and Lukas Podolski”s first goal of the 2006 FIFA World Cup sealing an emphatic 3-0 win over Ecuador.

Both these sides had already qualified for the Round of 16 prior to this match, but it is Jurgen Klinsmann”s side who will march on to the next phase in more confident mood after a performance that simply oozed self-assurance.

The sell-out crowd of 72,000 at Berlin”s Olympiastadion were certainly treated to a terrific showing from their side, for whom Klose – now tournament top scorer – was particularly impressive up front.

Ecuador, meanwhile, opted to rest a number of the players who had helped secure victories over Poland and Costa Rica in the South Americans” previous two matches, and did not look as potent without the likes of key striker Agustin Delgado.

Germany will now face the second-placed side from Group B in Munich on 24 June, while Ecuador will go head-to-head against the winner of that section in Stuttgart the following day.

The match:
4″: After early half-chances at both ends, the hosts took hold of the game with a goal inside five minutes. A looping cross from the left from Per Mertesacker was cut back across the face of goal by Bastian Schweinsteiger and buried from eight yards by Klose to tie the Werder Bremen man with Spain”s Fernando Torres as Germany 2006″s top scorer with three goals. (0-1)

19″: With the previously impressive South Americans unable to muster much resistance, the Germans sliced them wide open once again. This time, Philipp Lahm”s raid up the left channel ended in a whipped-in cross for Bernd Schneider at the back post. However, the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder”s well-struck volley flashed over the crossbar to groans from the home faithful.

25″: Not long after, a fine chipped through-ball from Schneider picked out the energetic Klose racing into the box. Ecuador goalkeeper Cristian Mora, however, raced off his line to deny the onrushing striker what would have been his second of the match.

33″: In an almost identical move, another lofted ball from Schneider found the foot of Klose once again, only for the striker”s viciously struck volley to fly over the bar. With time ticking down in the first half, the Ecuadorians were just hanging on.

44″: As it transpired, they could not make it to the interval without conceding again. Michael Ballack”s brilliant flicked pass picked out Klose, who overpowered his marker before rounding Mora and slotting into the open net. (0-2)

Podolski off the mark
51″: The Germans came out in the second half intent on picking up where they had left off in the first. Ecuador did, though, manage to stamp some authority on the match. Luis Valencia”s fierce tackle on Ballack in midfield earned him a yellow card and a stern talking-to from referee Valentin Ivanov.

53″: Just a few seconds later, the German response almost yielded a goal as Lahm picked out Podolski, who clipped a low shot just past the far post.

57″: The youngster made amends for his near-miss just seconds later as a brilliant counterattack led to another German goal. Turning defence into attack in a matter of seconds, Schneider crossed from the right to pick out the sliding Podolski, who made no mistake, poking the ball just inside the back post. (0-3)

66″: Giovanny Espinoza tried his luck from distance after a rare Ecuadorian break, Jens Lehmann in the German goal was barely troubled, however, and palmed the ball over with a minimum of fuss.

72″: A free-kick from 20 yards was the next decent chance the Ecuadorians conjured, with Edison Mendez”s swerving effort just failing to dip under the crossbar.

In conclusion:
Germany could have won by even more goals here and will advance to the Round of 16 with the confidence gained from three wins in Group A. Ecuador, despite a difficult day in Berlin, can look forward to their first-ever knockout game having won their first two matches. 

Group A Standing

Team		MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
	GER	3	3	0	0	8	2	9
	ECU	3	2	0	1	5	3	6
	POL	3	1	0	2	2	4	3
	CRC	3	0	0	3	3	9	0

(fifaworldcup.com)