Euro 2008 qualifying/Germany 2 Slovakia 1:Germany scraped a 2-1 win over Slovakia last night to move five points clear in Group D and take another stride towards qualifying for Euro 2008.
The Germans 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 half-time 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 the Republic of Ireland third a point further back. Slovakia, who needed a win to get back in the hunt, are fourth on nine and look well out of the group.
It's a result that will please Ireland manager Steve Staunton whose next Group D game will be against the Slovaks in Slovakia on September 8th.
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 pulled the back from the byeline. Martin Skrtl made a mess of clearing and the ball fell to Klose. Before he could tap in, Durica tried a last-gasp clearance and scuffed into his own net.
Slovakia started coming forward with more intent and were rewarded when Matej Krajciek wriggled into space on the right. Metzelder recovered to take the ball off his toes but his clearance flashed past Jens Lehmann for a second own-goal.
Slovakia might have gone ahead nine minutes later as Marek Sapara took a pass from Robert Vittek and forced a good save from Lehmann.
Germany were getting more and more frustrated as the Slovak centre-backs dealt with Kevin Kuranyi and Klose comfortably but they maintained their attacking focus down the wings and the tactic paid off again just before half-time.
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 over a cross to the far post to give the unmarked Hitzlsperger a clear header back across the goalkeeper and in.
The second period produced little of note as Germany held on for a comfortable win.
GERMANY:Lehmann; Lahm, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Jansen; Fritz, Frings, Schneider (Rolfes, 92 mins), Hitzlsperger; Klose (Trochowski, 74 mins), Kuranyi (Gomez, 65 mins).
SLOVAKIA: Contofalsky; Krajcik, Durica, Skrtel, Klimpl; Sapara (Holosko, 65 mins), Strba (Oravec, 83 mins), Sapara, Svento; Vittek, Sestach (Zofcak, 65 mins).
Referee:M Benquerenca (Portugal)
