Gomez breaks slump in rout of UAE

• Source: The Global Times
• [23:38 June 03 2009]
• Comments

By Wang Wei

Germany’s midfielder Piotr Trochowski goes for the ball during the friendly match against United Arab Emirates yesterday. Photo: AFP

Towering striker Mario Gomez ended his embarrassing 14-month goal drought by adding four goals to his tally in Germany’s 7-2 crushing victory over the United Arab Emirates torday.

The 23-year-old German striker, who joined FC Bayern for a Bundesliga record-breaking fee of 30 million euros ($43 million) on May 27, allows the under-strength German team to finish their poor Asian tour with a commanding win.

After being held to 1-1 tie against China in Shanghai on May 29, world No.2 Germany, who went on the Asian tour without star midfielders Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings, played awkwardly in front of a weaker side until they found the opener midway through the first half.

Making his international debut, keeper Manuel Neuer demonstrated his skill on several excellent saves to keep the game scoreless until his teammates opened up the scoring in the 29th minute, when right back Heiko Westermann diverted the ball into the back of the net from 12-yards out on a good cross from fellow full back Phillip Lahm.

The German players then took full advantage of the width of the field to make it 4-0 at half time off of lethal crosses down both flanks. Midfielder Piotr Trochowski’s low drive and a Gomez double, which were all set up by beautiful crosses, destroyed both of their opponents’ confidence and defense to put the match beyond doubt right before the interval.

Gomez added another two goals to his name in the second half. The UAE players scored three times, with two consolation goals and an own goal, to finalize the score at 7-2 at the end of the match.

The European runner-up’s next game is a 2010 World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan on August 12. Germany leads their group by four points, ahead of second-placed Russia.

In another international friendly in Saint-Etienne, Nigeria beat France 1-0 for the first time in their history on a quick tap-in by striker Joseph Akpala in the 32nd minute after his fellow striker Ikechukwu Uche hit the post.

The home side got a boost after the interval thanks to a string of good substitutions, but were not able to prevent a bitter defeat in front of their own fans.

Elsewhere, midfielder Hamit Altintop and Ibrahim Uzulmez’s quick-fire double in the 70th and 75th minutes earned Turkey an easy 2-0 win against Azerbaijan.

Agencies contributed to the story