DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA — For one night, the Beautiful Game belonged to Germany.
Known more as a methodical team than a brilliantly creative one such as Brazil, the Germans scored several lovely goals Sunday night in a 4-0 rout of Australia.
Germany scored two goals in each half, and Tim Cahill was sent off as the three-time champion surged to the top of Group D at the World Cup.
“I think the way we set up our attacks is something we’ve been working on intensively,” Germany coach Joachim Loew said. “But we’ve also worked on how we play off the ball — to move into unused space. We were very good on the ball tonight, and we created beautiful goals.”
Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose scored in the first 30 minutes as Australia coach Pim Verbeek’s defensive tactics backfired.
Thomas Mueller and Cacau also scored against an overwhelmed Australian defense in the second half after Cahill was red-carded in the 56th minute for a late tackle on Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Ghana 1, Serbia 0
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA — Asamoah Gyan scored on an 84thminute penalty kick as Ghana beat Serbia in Group D.
Zdravko Kuzmanovic needlessly handled a cross in the area, then argued the call and yellow card he received.
Gyan drove the first penalty kick of the tournament high to the left for the only goal.
Slovenia 1, Algeria 0
POLOKWANE, SOUTH AFRICA — Robert Koren scored a late goal as Slovenia, the smallest nation in the tournament with about 2 million people, took the lead in Group C over the United States and England with its victory over Algeria.
Koren struck a long-range shot that Algeria goalkeeper Fawzi Chaouchi misjudged and allowed to bounce into the net off his arm in the 79th minute.
