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| Muller & Germany roll into final. Photo credit: Martin Rose/Getty Images |
Germany set a record with the five fastest goals of all-time in their 7-1 shellacking of Brazil in the World Cup Semifinal at Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte. The five goals scored in the first half were the most at a World Cup since Poland achieved that feat back in 1974.
By: Sunil Sunderraj
Both Miroslav Klose and Andre Schurrle scored two goals apiece for Germany. At the 23th minute of the first half, Kroos passed Ronaldo to become the World Cup all-time leader in goals scored with his 16th off a brilliant touch pass from Muller inside the box to Kroos who was initially denied by goalkeeper Julio Cesar but on the rebound chipped the ball past a diving Cesar.
One minute later, he would notch his second tally of the match that increased the lead to 4-0 leaving Brazil’s fans in disbelief and tears over their team’s collapse on the big stage.
A turnover in Brazil’s own end opened up a fast break for the Germans. Sami Khedira then fed a nifty pass to Kroos who slotted the ball past an out of place Cesar into the wide open net, putting more salt into the wound for Brazil.
It did not take Germany long to turn this match into an all out rout.Thomas Muller opened up the scoring at the 11 minute mark off a corner kick cross from Kroos right volleying a kick into the right corner of the net. Muller became only the 10th player in World Cup history to score ten plus goals.
Germany’s dominance continued in the 29th minute as Mesut Ozil slid a pass to Khedira who slotted a low shot underneath the legs of a diving Maicon into the left corner of net pushing the lead to 5-0. Brazil was heavily booed by fans as they exited the field at halftime.
In the 2nd half, Germany refused to take the gas off the pedal as they increased the lead to 6-0 at the 69th minute. A series of dazzling exchange passing between Phillip Lahm and Khedira found Schurrle who from close range side footed a shot past Cesar into the back right corner of net leading to that sixth goal of the match.
Germany sealed Brazil’s disastrous exit from the World Cup or good in the 79th minute as Schurrle notched another goal off a crisp curling pass from Muller settling the ball down with his left leg and blasting a shot that it the underside of the bar into the right corner of the net.
However, Brazil was able to get on the scoreboard finally in the waning moments of the match as Oscar evaded rest of German’s defenders and fired the ball into the middle of the net making the score 7-1 and avoiding the shutout, though that is little comfort to them in the grand scheme of this match.
Germany will play the winner of Argentina-Netherlands semifinal in Sunday’s World Cup Final at the Marcana in Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil suffered their worst defeat since 1934. They tied a FIFA World Cup record for most goals allowed by a host nation. 