Germany 5 - Sweden 3; Austria 3 - Faroe Islands 0; Ireland 3 - Kazakhstan 1

Photo by Jonathan Nackstrand

There was nothing to play for in Group C today except for ranking points.  Germany had already won the group and Sweden had already clinched a playoff berth.  Those two teams met two on Swedish soil in Solna.  Their first match in Group C play had ended in a memorable 4-4 draw, and this match nearly outdid the first meeting.  Sweden struck first early in the match.  A goal kick turned into offense for the Swedes and Sebastian Larsson played a through ball for Tobias Hysen.  Hysen scooted into the area and then rolled a low shot through the goalkeeper's legs for the opener.  Germany regained composure and were the better side for the rest of the half.  Thomas Muller headed a would-be equalizer off the crossbar.  With halftime approaching, Sweden again hit a through ball into space, taking advantage of the poor offside positioning played by Germany left centerback Mats Hummels for a second time.  Kim Kallstrom played the ball ahead to Alexander Kacaniklic, who finished ahead of the recovery run by Hummels.  In the final minute, Germany pulled a goal back.  Sweden blocked a pass, but the ball took a lucky hop for die Mannschaft.  Mesut Ozil was the recipient of the bounce at the edge of the penalty area, so without hesitation he powered a strike goalward to make it 2-1.  The halftime scoreboard read Sweden 2, Germany 1.

Andre Schurrle (pictured, white) became a sensation in the second half for the visitors.  His slick dribbling slipped a trap at midfield, beginning the run up to the equalizer.  Eventually, Ozil had the ball inside the box.  A nice hesitation dribble drew three defenders, leaving Mario Gotze open.  Ozil toe-poked the ball to Gotze, who roofed the shot for 2-2.  Schurrle then anticipated a Per Nilsson (pictured, yellow) pass perfectly, stepping around the intended target to rob the ball before sprinting thirty yards into the box.  Schurrle cut back on Nilsson in the box before slotting home for 3-2.  Germany had taken the lead a mere dozen minutes into the second half.  Hysen was then caught in possession by Max Kruse.  The ball fell to Gotze, who passed to an onrushing Schurrle for the finish and 4-2.  Three minutes later, Hysen atoned for his sin.  Hysen took a running start and was able to get a boot on a Larsson free kick for an impressive volley finish.  With a quarter hour left on the clock, the two-goal lead was restored for the visitors.  Toni Kroos pushed to the left from the half circle to the red-hot Schurrle.  Schurrle curled a ball into the far side upper ninety to finish his hat trick and put Germany ahead 5-3.  Without much possession, Sweden had done well enough to score three goals.  Five was simply too tall an order.  Germany win 5-3 to cap off their Group C campaign with a ninth victory.

Austria finished their campaign with a trip north to Torshavn to take on Faroe Islands.  Andreas Ivanschitz scored off a cross from Martin Harnik to put Austria ahead just ahead a quarter hour had elapsed.  Christian Holst's attempt at an equalizer was blocked by Austria defender Sebastian Prodl.  Austria led 1-0 at the conclusion of the first half of play.

Austria sealed the match in a five-minute window midway through the second half.  Prodl scored from the run of play, and then minutes later Harnik drew a penalty kick off a foul from Frodi Benjaminsen.  Austria converted for their third goal of the match and then coasted over the finish line.  Austria win 3-0.

Ireland finished their FIFA World Cup adventure at home in Dublin, with Kazakhstan serving as the foil.  Ireland dug themselves a hole after a dozen minutes when Seamus Coleman swung and missed at a clearance attempt.  Dmitriy Shomko arrived to strike the ball first-time, and the result was a beautiful goal from twenty-three yards out to give Kazakhstan the lead.  Aleksandr Kislitsyn thought he was playing baseball and decided to stick a gloved hand straight into the air to bring down a ball inside the Kazakh area.  Kislitsyn is a field player, however, so Ireland were awarded a penalty kick.  They converted for the equalizer.  Nine minutes later, a high bounce off a header from Richard Dunne was not handled cleanly by Kazakhstan goalkeeper Andrey Sidelnikov, so John O'Shea was able to clean up the rebound and put Ireland ahead 2-1.  The crowd went silent as Darren Gibson had to be stretchered off the pitch for Ireland ten minutes later.  Ireland led 2-1 at the break.

In the second period, the only notable action came from a shot from Aiden McGeady.  Shomko had to do his best to try and clear the ball off his line with Robbie Keane lurking for the tap-in goal, but Shomko only managed an own goal.  Ireland stroll to a 3-1 home victory.

Goals
Germany
Mesut Ozil 45
Mario Gotze 53
Andre Schurrle 57, 66, 76

Sweden
Tobias Hysen 6, 69
Alexander Kacaniklic 42

Austria
Andreas Ivanschitz 16
Sebastian Proedl 64
David Alaba 67 PK

Ireland
Robbie Keane 17 PK
John O'Shea 26
Dmitriy Shomko 77 OG

Kazakhstan
Dmitriy Shomko 13

Match Reports:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/15/sweden-germany-world-cup-qualifier
http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2399234-schuerrle-scores-3-germany-beats-sweden-5-3.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/mesut-ozil-picks-up-knee-injury-as-germany-defeat-sweden-53-prompting-arsenal-doubts-for-weekend-visit-of-norwich-8883518.html
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1812487-sweden-vs-germany-score-grades-and-post-match-reaction
http://espnfc.com/en/report/334813/report.html?soccernet=true
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24525613
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/15/republic-ireland-kazakhstan-world-cup-qualifer
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2461437/Republic-Ireland-3-Kazakhstan-1-match-report-Robbie-Keane-John-OShea-score.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpiF_zbUcRM (Germany v. Sweden)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQgQtcgbX6w (Ireland v. Kazakhstan)