Ireland 2 - Kazakhstan 1; Germany 3 - Faroe Islands 0

Ireland made the trip to Astana, knowing the long trip to face Kazakhstan needed to result in three points in a group where they will be jockeying with Germany and Sweden for a place at Brasil 2014.  Geynrikh Shmidtgal whipped in a devastasting cross from a dead ball that has flicked on and into the net Irish net by Kairat Nurdauletov.  The 1-0 halftime lead gave Kazakhstan something to show for their complete dominance in the first period.

Kazakhstan's proverbial foot remained firmly on the accelerator in the second half, and it took all he had for Irish goalkeeper Keiren Westwood to save a breakaway that had caught his back four napping.  Just when all seemed lost, Ireland snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.  Robbie Keane was felled in the box with two minutes to play.  He dusted himself off and converted the penalty for 1-1.  Ireland then snatched a miraculous winner when Stephen Ward knocked down a loose ball in the box and Kevin Doyle came onrushing to fire home from close range.  Ireland win 2-1 in dramatic fashion.

Germany opened their Brasil 2014 quest at home in Hanover against the Faroe Islands.  Faroe goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen put on an excellent display to keep Die Mannschaft at bay early on. He made five masterly saves before finally Germany find a breakthrough.  It took a Mario Goetze strike off the inside of a post to breach the Faroe Islands net.  In fact, toward the end of the half, a defensive header of the line from Per Mertesacker was all that prevented the Faroe Islands from equalizing.  The half ended at a surprisingly close 1-0.

In the next period, it took almost ten minutes, but Germany stretched their lead after a Thomas Muller cross found Mesut Ozil for a volley into the back of the net.  Marco Reus seventeen minutes on hit a great through ball to Ozil, who finished off Nielsen's body for the third and final goal.  Germany win 3-0.

Goals
Ireland
Robbie Keane 89 PK
Kevin Doyle 90

Kazakhstan
Kairat Nurdauletov 37

Germany
Mario Goetze 28
Mesut Ozil 54, 71

Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1696909/index.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy4Vw5EdqYQ

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuwcXs2C5Y8 (Ireland v. Kazakhstan)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_YqOvC7jhA (Germany v. Faroe Islands)