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World Cup qualifying: Karhan double gives Slovakia win over Germany [Mon Sep 5th, 2005]
Bratislava (Reuters) - Slovakia took advantage of Germany's ongoing defensive problems to beat the World Cup hosts 2-0 in a friendly international.
Miroslav Karhan, who plays in the Bundesliga with VfL Wolfsburg, scored both goals, converting a penalty in the 20th minute and chipping over keeper Jens Lehmann for the second seven minutes before the break.
Germany, who came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Holland in their last match, found no second wind this time, although Michael Ballack had a seemingly legal goal ruled out in the 63rd minute.
Victory for Slovakia provided a welcome boost ahead of their trip to face Latvia on Wednesday, a match they must win to stay in the hunt for a World Cup place. Slovakia are in second place in Group Three behind Portugal and ahead of Russia.
For Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann, the match will have raised further concerns over a defence that has been leaking goals since the Confederations Cup.
Germany have conceded 10 goals in their last four games, 15 in their last seven, and have kept clean sheets in just two matches in 2005, against Tunisia and Slovenia.
Klinsmann has only a diet of friendlies to prepare for next year's World Cup -- as hosts they are assured of a place without going through qualifying -- and the coach will seek a more assured display against South Africa in Bremen on Wednesday.
INDIVIDUAL ERRORS
"I'm very disappointed with the first half," said Klinsmann. "We made costly individual mistakes and were slow to recover when we lost the ball. We've got a lot to work on."
Slovakia dominated the first half and came close to taking the lead when Marek Mintal flashed a shot just wide in the 13th minute after the ball had fallen to him at a corner.
Robert Vittek gave the Germans another warning when he held off Per Mertesacker to get a clear sight of goal, only to blast his shot well over.
Mertesacker was less fortunate a minute later when he needlessly held on to Vittek to give away the penalty.
Miroslav Klose's header forced Kamil Contofalsky into a fine save in the 37th minute, but within 60 seconds, Slovakia had doubled their lead following a swift break forward.
Mintal hooked over a cross from wide on the left and Karhan calmly lifted the ball over Lehmann, who did little to back up his claim this week that he deserved to play in the World Cup ahead of Oliver Kahn.
Germany improved greatly with the introduction of Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger for the second half, but their hopes of a comeback faded when Ballack's header was ruled out, presumably for a push.
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