Schurrle back in style for Germans

Andre Schurrle scored twice as Germany extended their perfect start in World Cup qualifying Group C to five games with a 4-1 win against Azerbaijan in Baku yesterday.

Preferred by coach Joachim Low to Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil in the starting line-up, Schurrle hit his side’s first and last goals in the 19th and 81st minutes after Dima Nazarov had briefly dragged the hosts back level.

Thomas Muller and Mario Gomez also scored at the end of the first half to virtually secure the Germans’ passage back to the finals in Russia next year.

The Azeris, starting the game in joint second place in the group despite a 4-0 thumping in Northern Ireland last time out, started well and threatened to make it a difficult night for the visitors.

But Germany made the breakthrough when Schurrle

“The Germans took just five minutes to respond”

squeezed through a static home defence to convert a left-wing cross from Jonas Hector.

But Azerbaijan hit a superb equaliser. Afran Ismayilov fired a ball across the edge of the box and Nazarov slotted home.

The Germans took just five minutes to repond Schurrle found Muller who restored the visitors’ lead.

Low’s mengot their third goal on the stroke of half-time, Gomez planting a firm header past Kamran Ayayev.

Schurrle and Muller responded with chances before Germany almost grabbed a fourth on the hour mark, a neat ball from Mats Hummels just failing to find the lurking Muller.

The fourth German goal did arrive 10 minutes from time when Hector picked out Schurrle who turned inside the Azeri defenders before smashing the ball into the roof of the net.