Ecuador 0 - 3 Germany

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Tuesday Jun 20 2006 03:00

Germany clinched top spot in Group A by coasting to a 3-0 victory against a below strength Ecuador in Berlin.

A first-half Miroslav Klose brace and a strike from Lukas Podolski after the break secured victory for the hosts in a match they dominated for the full 90 minutes without ever hitting peak form.

Ecuador coach Luis Fernando Suarez effectively surrendered before kick-off by opting to rest five key players, with his side's last 16 tie in mind.

Germany took less than four minutes to get off the mark, with the help of some sloppy defending from Ecuador's remodelled backline.

They missed two opportunities to clear a poorly taken corner from Bastian Schweinsteiger and the ball eventually found its way back to the Bayern Munich man, who cut it back from the byline to Klose on the edge of the six-yard box.

The Werder Bremen striker made no mistake, guiding a powerful shot across goalkeeper Cristian Mora and into the far corner.

The hosts proceeded to control the rest of the opening 45 minutes, but much of their attacking play lacked spark and the game had a training ground feel to it as they knocked the ball about in midfield.

The second goal arrived a minute before the break when Michael Ballack's superb chipped pass played in Klose, who used his knee to take the ball wide of the goalkeeper before slotting it into the unguarded net.

Ecuador offered more of a fight after the break but struggled to break down Germany's defence and rarely troubled Jens Lehmann.

Their attacking approach left them open to swift counter attacks and the hosts took advantage to make sure of victory.

An Ecuador corner was cleared and Schweinsteiger released the industrious Bernd Schneider on the right wing. His pinpoint centre found Podolski, who steered the ball beyond Mora.

Podolski and Ballack could have added to the score in the final half-hour, but the three-goal victory was enough to remind the world's top teams that Germany will not be a pushover for anyone in the later stages of the tournament.

  • 90
    ECUADOR 0-3 GERMANY
  • 90
    It's now three wins from three for Germany, who finish top of Group A. Ecuador made it easy for them, as Suarez's decision to field a below strength team meant the match was almost over as a contest before kick-off.
  • 90
    Ambrossi's dive persuades the referee to award Ecuador a free-kick on the edge of Germany's area. Kaviedes' effort hits the wall.
  • 87
    More good attacking play from Lahm creates a chance for Ballack, who hits a powerful shot from the edge of the box. It strikes Mora on the chest and rebounds to safety, but the keeper didn't know much about it.
  • 85
    Schweinsteiger takes advantage of De La Cruz's slack defending to get a shot away, but his volley is straight at Mora.
  • 82
    Friedrich concedes a free-kick on the left side of the Germany area. Mendez can't beat the two-man wall.
  • 81
    Podolski tries to release Neuville, but his pass is too hard and goes through to the Ecuador 'keeper.
  • 80
    There's little action at the minute. Both sides know the game is over and that Germany will finish top of Group A.
  • 77
    Ballack tries his luck from 25 yards, but his dipping shot is just too high. Mora probably had it covered anyway.
  • 76
    Asamoah cuts in from the right wing and goes for goal from the edge of the box. He slips as he shoots and Mora makes a comfortable save.
  • 75
    Borowski is booked after committing a third foul in the nine minutes he has been on the field.
  • 73
    Schneider is given a rest after an excellent display, with Gerald Asamoah coming on to replace him.
  • 72
    Borowski trips Benitez 25 yards out. Mendez's curling free-kick is inches over the bar, with Lehmann well beaten.
  • 68
    Suarez makes his final change, as Patricio Urrutia replaces Ayovi.
  • 66
    Klinsmann makes a double change with Tim Borowski and Oliver Neuville replacing Frings and Klose.
  • 66
    Lara tries his luck from distance, but his low shot is inches wide of the German goal.
  • 64
    Lara is tackled on the edge of the Germany box and the hosts again break swiftly. Lahm releases Podolski on the left wing, but the striker is flagged for offside.
  • 63
    Christian Lara replaces Valencia for Ecuador.
  • 62
    Friedrich finds Ballack on the edge of the box, but the Germany skipper's lazy shot is way off target.
  • 59
    It should have been four as Klose pulls the ball back for Podolski, but the youngster's scuffed shot is easily saved by Mora.
  • 57
    ECUADOR 0-3 GERMANY The hosts break quickly from an Ecuador corner. Schweinsteiger releases Schneider on the right wing and his ball picks out PODOLSKI. This time he makes no mistake.
  • 55
    Ecuador are seeing plenty of the ball, but are finding the Germany defence difficult to break down.
  • 53
    Lahm takes advantage of Guagua's hesitancy in the tackle to scurry down the left wing and set up Podolski on the edge of the box. The youngster drags his shot wide.
  • 51
    Valencia is booked for a lunge at Ballack. The German players wanted a red card, but that would have been harsh.
  • 50
    Ecuador have started the second half well and look intent on making Germany work hard to secure top spot in Group A.
  • 49
    Edwin Tenorio tries his luck from 25 yards out, but Lehmann makes a comfortable save.
  • 47
    Podolski has a chance to add a third, but the ball won't sit down for him and he is crowded out before he can get a shot away.
  • 46
    Ecuador made a change at the break, with Cristian Benitez replacing Borja
  • 46
    Germany get the second half underway.
  • 45
    HALF-TIME: ECUADOR 0-2 GERMANY
  • 45
    Germany win a free-kick 30 yards out, but again Schweinsteiger's delivery is poor and Ecuador are able to clear.
  • 44
    ECUADOR 0-2 GERMANY A superb chipped pass from Ballack picks out KLOSE in the area. He uses his knee to take it round Mora before coolly slotting the ball home.
  • 42
    Lehmann is able to continue after treatment.
  • 40
    Lehmann is injured after making a punch on the edge of his area. Neither side is willing to play the ball out for him to receive treatment, so the referee has to halt the game.
  • 38
    This time the ball finds Kaviedes in the area, but the angle is too tight for the Ecuador striker who fires wide.
  • 36
    A rare Ecuador attack breaks down when Arne Friedrich intercepts Borja's angled pass towards Kaviedes.
  • 35
    Ballack attempts to pick out Klose on the edge of the box, but Giovanny Espinoza spots the danger and manages to intercept.
  • 34
    Guagua is fortunate to escape without a card for an elbow on Ballack.
  • 33
    Schweinsteiger cons the referee in to awarding a free-kick 20 yards out, but his delivery is poor and headed clear by Mendez.
  • 30
    Ballack's quick thinking releases Podolski through the middle, but Mora comes out of his area to clear. The clearance falls to Ballack 40 yards out and he goes for goal. His ambitious effort misses the target.
  • 28
    Schweinsteiger wins a free-kick near the corner flag. The delivery is good, but Huth fouls his marker as he attempts to get on the end of it.
  • 25
    Schneider chips the ball in to the Ecuador box for Klose to chase, but Mora reacts quickly and just beats the striker to it.
  • 23
    Kaviedes is back on the field and attempts to release Ambrossi on the left side of the Germany area, but his pass is just too hard and goes out for a goal-kick.
  • 22
    Klose plays in Podolski, but the Germany striker is flagged for offside.
  • 21
    There's a pause in play to allow Kaviedes to receive treatment after he took a boot in the face.
  • 19
    Lahm gets free on the left again and picks out Bernd Schneider with a cross, but his volley is too high to trouble Mora in the Ecuador goal.
  • 17
    Edison Mendez picks up the ball in midfield and with nothing much on, goes for goal from 30 yards out. His tame shot is well wide and dribbles out of play for a goal-kick to Germany.
  • 16
    Ulises De La Cruz takes advantage of Lahm's slip to get a cross in, but he hits it way too hard and it causes no problems for the German defence.
  • 14
    Ballack sets Philipp Lahm free on the left wing. He fires over a dangerous cross but Klose can't quite get on the end of it.
  • 12
    Ecuador finally enjoy a spell of possession, but it comes to nothing when Valencia's overhit pass to Borja drifts out for a goal-kick.
  • 9
    Lukas Podolski chases a Ballack throughball over the top, but Ecuador 'keeper Cristian Mora is out quickly to claim it.
  • 7
    Germany have a free-kick 20 yards out, but Michael Ballack can only find the wall.
  • 4
    ECUADOR 0-1 GERMANY Bastian Schweinsteiger cuts the ball back from the byline and Miroslav KLOSE makes no mistake with the simple finish.
  • 2
    Luis Antonio Valencia gets free on the right side and fires in a low cross. Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is out quickly to intercept.
  • 1
    Ecuador get the game underway
  • 0
    Ecuador boss Luis Fernando Suarez has made five changes, including a new look strike-force of Ivan Kaviedes and Felix Borja. Paul Ambrossi, Jorge Guagua and Marlon Ayovi also come in to the starting line-up.
  • 0
    Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann has made one change to the team that beat Poland, with Chelsea's Robert Huth replacing Christoph Metzelder in defence.
  • 0
    Germany face Ecuador in Berlin with both sides having already qualified for the last 16.

Statistics

Ecuador
Shots on target 3
Shots off target 4
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 22
Offsides 0
Corners 5

Germany
Shots on target 9
Shots off target 6
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 18
Offsides 3
Corners 2

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