Germany's perfect 10 completed with win over Azerbaijan
ByReuters
Published 08/10/2017 at 21:05 GMT
Germany crushed Azerbaijan 5-1 on Sunday with talented Leon Goretzka scoring twice, to complete a record-equalling World Cup qualifying campaign with ten wins out of ten matches.
Leon Goretzka of Germany celebrate with his team mates after he scores the opening goal during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between Germany and Azerbaijan at Fritz-Walter-Stadion on October 8, 2017 in Kaiserslautern, Rhineland-Palatinate.
Image credit: Getty Images
Germany, who had already secured qualification for next year's finals in Russia, needed an hour to hit their stride despite an early lead through the 22-year-old Goretzka, already a target for several top European clubs.
They made sure of the three points and a maximum 30 in Group C with a strong second half performance, scoring four more goals after a brief Azeri equaliser.
The Germans equalled Spain's record from the 2008-9 qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup with their 10th victory but they could boast an even better goal difference than the Spaniards.
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Leon Goretzka of Germany celebrates after he scores the opening goal during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between Germany and Azerbaijan at Fritz-Walter-Stadion on October 8, 2017 in Kaiserslautern, Rhineland-Palatinate.
Image credit: Getty Images
Germany, who made seven changes to their line-up after the 3-1 win in Belfast against Northern Ireland that secured their qualification, went ahead through Goretzka's superb and powerful eighth minute backheel.
Sandro Wagner should have doubled the lead on the half-hour mark but his casual effort was palmed onto the post by the keeper.
Instead it was the hosts who scored, briefly stunning the home crowd, when Ramil Sheidaev fired in from a tight angle to complete a quick break in the 34th minute.
Coach Joachim Loew's initial plans to use the game as a first test en route to their title defence went out the window with first-half injuries to Niklas Suele and Shkodran Mustafi.
Yet his team quickly finished off the game with Wagner grabbing his fifth goal in his fifth international in the 54th minute and Antonio Ruediger scoring 10 minutes later.
The 22-year-old Goretzka then slipped into the box to tap in his second goal of the evening in the 66th minute as the Azeri defence collapsed before Emre Can capped the rout with a thundering 25-metre strike nine minutes from time.
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