Super-sub Klose keeps Germany on course

Veteran striker Miroslav Klose kept Germany on course for a place at next year’s World Cup with two second-half goals to seal a 4-0 win over Azerbaijan here on Wednesday night.

The 31-year-old Bayern Munich star has now scored 47 goals for his country to put him joint third amongst Germany’s goal-scorers and level with legends Jurgen Klinsmann and Rudi Voeller.

But he still has some ground to cover to break Gerd Muller’s record of 68 goals to be crowned Germany’s goal king.

After the national team’s rising stars Mario Gomez and Mesut Oezil scored in last Saturday’s 2-0 win over South Africa, the old guard had their say here as captain Michael Ballack, Klose and Lukas Podolski scored for the hosts.

With Russia winning 3-1 against Wales in Cardiff, Germany lead Group Four by a point from their rivals – who they face in Moscow on October 10 – but this was not a commanding performance against the side bottom of the group.

Germany coach Joachim Loew lost centre-back Arne Friedrich before kick-off when the Hertha Berlin captain pulled a muscle and his place in defence went to Schalke 04’s Heiko Westermann.

Goalkeeper Robert Enke had already been forced out by a mystery illness at the start of the week so Bayer Leverkusen’s Rene Adler, who kept another cleansheet after Saturday’s South African win, stayed between the posts.

Having employed a 4-3-3 system to great effect last Saturday, Loew opted for the same formation with Podolski and Oezil on the flanks with Mario Gomez as the single striker.

The best chance of the opening stages fell to Werder Bremen’s Oezil when the 20-year-old broke through but fired his shot at goalkeeper Kamran Aghayev.

Then on nine minutes, Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger cut in from the wing and attempted a long-range shot which just flew over the bar.

It was only a matter of time before Germany got the first goal and it came soon after when Bayern’s Gomez threaded a pass through the defence for Cologne’s Podolski.

He was brought down by the Azerbaijan defence and Ballack slotted home the spot kick on 13 minutes.

But the home side lost their way with 30 minutes played as Oezil, then Ballack gave away posession needlessly with the guests posing no danger.

In the lull, Azerbaijan took advantage when Mahir Shukurov drilled in a shot which demanded a strong save from Adler on 37 minutes, it was more than the home crowd could stomach and the Germans walked off to loud boos at half-time.

Loew made a change immediately after the break with Klose – the top scorer at the 2006 World Cup – replacing Gomez as the lone striker.

The move paid off as Klose hit his 46th goal for Germany on 55 minutes after Azerbaijan had their captain Samir Abbasov sent off five minutes before for a second yellow card offence.

Klose showed a poacher’s instinct when he scored his second on 66 minutes before Podolski slotted home his shot on 71 minutes as Germany re-exerted their authority. Klose netted again in the 73rd minute, but his effort was ruled offside and his hat-trick was denied.

But Germany will need to raise their game over the full 90 minutes to be sure of victory in Moscow on October 10 in their next and penultimate World Cup qualifier.