- News>
- Football
Germany pulls off last minute win against Faroe Islands
Torshavn, June 12: Germany, Italy and Sweden all gained wins in Euro 2004 qualifying matches played on Wednesday (June 11).
Torshavn, June 12: Germany, Italy and Sweden all gained wins in Euro 2004 qualifying matches played on Wednesday (June 11).
Germany needed two last-gasp goals to beat the modest Faroe Islands 2-0 in Torshavn to hold on to top spot in Group Five.
The three-times world and European champions were heading for an embarrassing draw against the mostly-amateur north Atlantic side when substitute striker Miroslav Klose headed them into the lead with one minute remaining.
Striker Fredi Bobic doubled the visitors' advantage from close range two minutes into added time.
Germany dominated throughout and came close in the 23rd minute when Bobic hit the post with the goal at his mercy after a bad clearance from Jakup Mikkelsen.
Bobic had another great chance two minutes from the break with a header which defender Oli Johanessemn cleared off his own post.
In the 65th minute it was midfielder Carsten Ramelow's turn to hit the post with a powerful drive from the edge of the post.
Germany were missing playmaker Michael Ballack because of a calf injury and his absence was sorely felt, the visitors looking short of ideas in midfield and clumsy in front of goal.
Goalkeeper and captain Oliver Kahn, suffering from conjunctivitis, was replaced at halftime by Frank Rost, who was hardly tested as the hosts concentrated on defending.
Germany now lead the group on 11 points from five games. Iceland moved into second place, two points behind, after a stunning 3-0 win in Lithuania earlier on Wednesday. Scotland, who held Germany to a 1-1 draw in Glasgow on Saturday, dropped to third place.
Faroe Islands: 1-Jakup Mikkelsen; 2-Oli Johannesen, 3-Johannis Joensen, 4-Pol Thorsteinsson, 5-Jon Roi Jacobsen, 6-Rogvi Jacobsen, 7-Frodi Benjaminsen, 8-Julian Johnsson, 9-Jakup a Borg (14-Hjalgrim Elttor 61), 10-John Petersen, 11-Christian Jacobsen (18-Jann Ingi Petersen 77)
Germany: 1-Oliver Kahn (12-Frank Rost 46); 2-Arne Friedrich, 3-Tobias Rau (15-Michael Hartmann 72), 4-Christian Woerns, 5-Carsten Ramelow; 6-Paul Freier, 7-Oliver Neuville, 8-Sebastian Kehl, 9-Fredi Bobic, 10-Bernd Schneider, 16-Jens Jeremies (11-Miroslav Klose 65) Referee: Jan Wegereef (Netherlands) REUTERS 112100 GMT jun 03
Group 5 standings: P W D L F A Pts 1. Germany 5 3 2 0 8 3 11 2. Iceland 5 3 0 2 9 5 9 3. Scotland 5 2 2 1 7 5 8 4. Lithuania 6 2 1 3 4 9 7 5. Faroe Islands 5 0 1 4 4 10 1
Remaining matches: August 20 Faroe Islands v Iceland September 6 Scotland v Faroe Islands Iceland v Germany September 10 Faroe Islands v Lithuania Germany v Scotland October 11 Scotland v Lithuania Germany v Iceland
Bureau Report
Bobic had another great chance two minutes from the break with a header which defender Oli Johanessemn cleared off his own post.
In the 65th minute it was midfielder Carsten Ramelow's turn to hit the post with a powerful drive from the edge of the post.
Germany were missing playmaker Michael Ballack because of a calf injury and his absence was sorely felt, the visitors looking short of ideas in midfield and clumsy in front of goal.
Goalkeeper and captain Oliver Kahn, suffering from conjunctivitis, was replaced at halftime by Frank Rost, who was hardly tested as the hosts concentrated on defending.
Germany now lead the group on 11 points from five games. Iceland moved into second place, two points behind, after a stunning 3-0 win in Lithuania earlier on Wednesday. Scotland, who held Germany to a 1-1 draw in Glasgow on Saturday, dropped to third place.
Faroe Islands: 1-Jakup Mikkelsen; 2-Oli Johannesen, 3-Johannis Joensen, 4-Pol Thorsteinsson, 5-Jon Roi Jacobsen, 6-Rogvi Jacobsen, 7-Frodi Benjaminsen, 8-Julian Johnsson, 9-Jakup a Borg (14-Hjalgrim Elttor 61), 10-John Petersen, 11-Christian Jacobsen (18-Jann Ingi Petersen 77)
Germany: 1-Oliver Kahn (12-Frank Rost 46); 2-Arne Friedrich, 3-Tobias Rau (15-Michael Hartmann 72), 4-Christian Woerns, 5-Carsten Ramelow; 6-Paul Freier, 7-Oliver Neuville, 8-Sebastian Kehl, 9-Fredi Bobic, 10-Bernd Schneider, 16-Jens Jeremies (11-Miroslav Klose 65) Referee: Jan Wegereef (Netherlands) REUTERS 112100 GMT jun 03
Group 5 standings: P W D L F A Pts 1. Germany 5 3 2 0 8 3 11 2. Iceland 5 3 0 2 9 5 9 3. Scotland 5 2 2 1 7 5 8 4. Lithuania 6 2 1 3 4 9 7 5. Faroe Islands 5 0 1 4 4 10 1
Remaining matches: August 20 Faroe Islands v Iceland September 6 Scotland v Faroe Islands Iceland v Germany September 10 Faroe Islands v Lithuania Germany v Scotland October 11 Scotland v Lithuania Germany v Iceland
Bureau Report