Germans slice through meek Australia

JOHANNESBURG: Three-time champions Germany demolished hapless 10-man Australia 4-0 in a late-night World Cup goal festival which swept away the hangover caused by the day’s two earlier turgid offerings. Goals from Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose, Thomas Mueller and Brazil-born striker Cacau left Germany on top of Group D.

The Germans dominated the Socceroos, with captain Philipp Lahm and rising stars Mesut Oezil and Thomas Mueller running Australian veterans Scott Chipperfield and Craig Moore ragged down the right wing.

The victory leaves Germany top of Group D, Ghana having beaten Serbia 1-0 in the day’s other game.

Podolski drew first blood in the ninth minute, the happy recipient of a textbook training ground move executed to clinical perfection. After Oezil had played in Mueller, the Bayern Munich right winger cut the ball back across the face of the goal for Podolski to hammer home left-footed, with Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer getting a hand on it.

Klose, top scorer in the 2006 World Cup, made it 2-0 in the 27th minute with a well-taken goal – and his 11th in the World Cup – rising between Australian captain Lucas Neill and Schwarzer to head powerfully home from a Lahm cross. The Socceroos, meanwhile, paid a heavy price for the dismissal of Tim Cahill, shown a straight red card in the 56th minute.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2010.