Germany 3 Klose (4, 44), Podolski (57)
MIROSLAV Klose struck twice to lead Germany to victory over a half-hearted Ecuador, sealing first place in Group A for the World Cup hosts.
Klose, who also scored two in the opening day 4-2 win ov
er Costa Rica, swooped for his first in the fourth minute of a match played in stifling humidity at the Olympiastadion.
The Polish-born forward made it 2-0 just before the interval to become the tournament's leading scorer as Ecuador, who go through to the last 16 in second spot, showed little desire to scrap it out. Fellow striker Lukas Podolski slid in the third after a low cross from midfielder Bernd Schneider.
Jurgen Klinsmann said it was mission accomplished for a team capturing the imagination of fans across the host nation.
"When you play at home you have the crowd behind you and that gives the players an extra push. It's World Cup fever," said the Germany coach. "Our goal was to win the group and we achieved that. It was difficult to keep the pace up because it was hot out there, but overall we are happy and looking forward to the knockout games."
Ecuador coach Luis Fernando Suarez said his team had not been at their best.
"Germany played a great match but we contributed to their good display," he said. "It was a bit of both.
"I don't want to take away from the performance of the German team, but I think we could have done better."
It had been clear before the start that the match meant more to Germany than to Ecuador, who made five changes to the side that beat Costa Rica 3-0.
Klose grabbed his first when the Ecuador defence failed to clear a corner and the ball fell to Per Mertesacker on the left. He hooked it back across goal, Bastian Schweinsteiger laid it back and Klose pounced.
Klose made it two with a fine finish. Ballack chipped through, Klose held off his marker and took the ball round goalkeeper Cristian Mora before slipping the ball into an empty net.
Klose has now scored nine World Cup goals after a five-goal burst on Germany's route to the final four years ago.
"Four years ago Klose showed his talent," Klinsmann said. "Now he is getting to a new level. He is experienced and hungry. He really wants to score goals."
Klose has scored four goals in the tournament and ranks fourth on the all-time list of German World Cup scorers, behind Gerd Mueller (14), Klinsmann (11) and Helmut Rahn (10).
Edwin Tenorio and Edison Mendez brought saves from Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann after the break, but Germany had a 72,000 full house cheering again with Podolski's sliding finish for the third.
Second place in the group is still a triumph for Ecuador, who were eliminated in the first round on their first appearance at the finals in 2002.
Ecuador: Mora, De la Cruz, Espinoza, Ambrossi, Guagua, Valencia (Lara 63), Edwin Tenorio, Ayovi (Urrutia 68), Mendez, Borja (Benitez 45), Kaviedes. Subs not used: Castillo, Delgado, Hurtado, Lanza, Perlaza, Reasco, Saritama, Carlos Tenorio, Villafuerte.
Germany: Lehmann, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Huth, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Frings (Borowski 66), Ballack, Schneider (Asamoah 72), Klose (Neuville 66), Podolski. Subs not used: Hanke, Hildebrand, Hitzlsperger, Jansen, Kahn, Kehl, Metzelder, Nowotny, Odonkor.
Referee: V Ivanov (Rus). Attendance: 72,000
