Sports / Soccer |
Unbeaten Germany win again to close in on finals(Reuters)Updated: 2007-06-07 10:36 HAMBURG, Germany, June 6 - Germany scraped a 2-1 win over Slovakia on Wednesday to move five points clear in Group D and take another stride towards Euro 2008. Germany took an early lead when Jan Durica put the ball into his own net, under pressure from Miroslav Klose, but another own-goal, this time from Christoph Metzelder, levelled the scores in the 20th minute. Thomas Hitzlsperger headed Germany back in front two minutes before halftime and the tiring home side held on in a poor second half to maintain their unbeaten record with six wins and a draw from their seven matches. Germany lead the group with 19 points, with the Czech Republic second on 14 and Ireland third a point further back. Slovakia, who needed a win to get back in the hunt, are fourth on nine. "You could see the players were tired but they gave everything to get this win," said Germany coach Joachim Loew. "The effort was unbelievable and we can be proud of that." Germany were without captain Michael Ballack and the Bayern Munich pair Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger and their only regular threat came from Marcell Jansen and Clemens Fritz on the wings. The opening goal came when Jansen burst through the Slovakia defence and crossed from the left. Martin Skrtl made a mess of clearing and the ball fell to Klose. Before he could tap in, Durica scuffed the ball into his own net. FIGHTING SPIRIT Slovakia, fighting to keep their qualification hopes alive, came forward and were rewarded when Matej Krajciek wriggled into space on the right. Metzelder took the ball off his toes but his clearance flashed past Jens Lehmann for a second own-goal. Slovakia might have gone ahead ahead nine minutes later as Marek Sapara took a pass from Robert Vittek and forced a good save from Lehmann on the turn. Germany were getting more and more frustrated but they maintained their focus down the wings and the tactic paid off again just before halftime. Philipp Lahm picked up the ball outside the area on the right and cut inside. Everyone was expecting a shot but the Bayern defender chipped a cross to the far post to give Hitzlsperger a clear header back across the keeper and in. Germany looked exhausted in the second half and they only occasionally threatened to kill the game off. Clemens Fritz forced Kamil Contofalsky to tip over a dipping shot form the edge of the area before substitute Mario Gomez threatened with a cracking drive from out on the left. Slovakia, for all their hustle in midfield, did not create a single clear chance in the second half. "We made too many individual mistakes," said Slovakia coach Jan Kocian. "Going forward, we lacked the final pass."
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