Republic routed by Germany

Marco Reus and Toni Kroos scored
twice as Germany hammered Ireland
6-1 in their World Cup qualifier in
Dublin, the Republic's heaviest home
defeat.
Borussia Dortmund's Reus fired the
visitors ahead after 32 minutes and
then added a second just eight
minutes later as Joachim Low's men
and group favourites found their
cutting edge.
Mesut Ozil slotted a penalty after the
restart (55) before Miroslav Klose (58)
and substitute Kroos (61, 83)
completed the humiliation over the
outclassed Irish.
Replacement Andy Keogh headed in an
added-time consolation for Ireland,
who had actually started the game well,
but Keith Andrews screwed well wide
from distance.
Irish captain John O'Shea then dwelt
on the ball inside his own penalty area
just before the half hour to allow Reus
in, but the razor-sharp German
attacker was shown yellow for diving
when a penalty and red card was in
order.
The respite was temporary and Reus
regally struck the opener after Bastian
Schweinsteiger's ball over the top
caused panic.
Reus soon doubled his and his
country's tally by rifling an unstoppable
left-foot shot across Keiren Westwood
and into the bottom corner (40) before
Simon Cox finally called German
keeper Manuel Neuer into action after
half-time.
Darren O'Dea brought down Klose to
gift Ozil his penalty, before the striker
rounded Westwood for Germany's
fourth, Kroos struck his first and
second from distance to make it 6-0
ahead of the unmarked Keogh's last-
gasp cheer for the deflated hosts.