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Ozil double helps Germany off to winning start

GROUP C Germany 3 Faroe Islands 0: MESUT Ozil scored twice as Germany began their qualifying campaign with a predictable 3-0…

Sat Sept 08 2012 - 01:00

GROUP C Germany 3 Faroe Islands 0:MESUT Ozil scored twice as Germany began their qualifying campaign with a predictable 3-0 win over a defensive, disciplined but extremely limited Faroe Islands alst night.

There was early drama as Faroes goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen kept the hosts at bay for almost half an hour and a hint of desperation was creeping into the Germans play before Mario Goetze broke through.

After that Germany relaxed, stroked the ball around, often at walking pace, and completed the European Group C win with two Ozil goals in the second half.

The game was largely played in near silence, broken only by a monotonous drum-banging in the background, and even the goals brought only muted cheers from the crowd.

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Nielsen made excellent saves to defy Khedira and Marco Reus as the opening exchanges resembled an attack-versus-defence training session.

Goetze settled German nerves in the 28th minute when he collected the ball around 30 metres from goal, weaved his way between the Faroe defenders and rolled the shot just inside the post from 12 metres.

Rogvi Baldvinsson prevented a certain goal when he threw himself in front of Sami Khediras goal-bound shot before Muller came agonisingly close to notching his first international goal in almost a year with a header after Reus acrobatic cross.

A rare Faroes Islands attack led to Germanys second in the 54th minute. The hosts broke out of defence, Thomas Mueller crossed from the byline and Ozil swept the ball into the net from 12 metres.

The Real Madrid midfielder provided another neat finish in the 72nd minute when Reus slipped the ball to him and he clipped the ball past Nielsen from the edge of the area.

They next face Austria on Tuesday.

GERMANY: Neuer; Lahm, Mertesacker, Hummels, Badstuber; Khedira, Ozil; Mueller (Schuerrle, 68 mins), Goetze (Draxler, 87 mins), Reus; Klose (Podolski, 75 mins).

FAROE ISLANDS: Nielsen; Naes, Johannus Justinussen, Baldvinsson, Faero, Udsen (Olsen, 46 mins), Benjaminen, Hansson, Samuelsen (Elttor, 65 mins), Holt, Joan.

Referee: Bobby Madden(Scotland)