Germany down Brazil in Stuttgart goalfest

Three second-half goals earned Germany only their fourth ever victory against Brazil as Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Götze and André Schürrle were on target in an open five-goal friendly in Stuttgart.

Though the hosts dominated the first period they were left frustrated by an in-form Júlio César, whose best save came after just six minutes when he denied the lively Götze's low shot. Joachim Löw's charges, without Real Madrid CF duo Mesut Özil and Sami Khedira, enjoyed the lion's share of possession but struggled to find a way through as Brazil sat back and looked to hit their opponents on the break.

Brazil missed a good chance to take the lead early in the second half when Pato's chip missed the target with Manuel Neuer beaten. At the other end Philipp Lahm and Götze both threatened, but it took a spot kick to break the deadlock, Schweinsteiger scoring on 61 minutes after Lucio had felled Toni Kroos.

Six minutes later it was 2-0 as Götze rounded the FC Internazionale Milano goalkeeper to score from a tight angle after nice interplay between Miroslav Klose and Kroos.

Brazil established a foothold in the match after 72 minutes when Lahm upended Dani Alves to enable Robinho to convert a penalty, but Germany re-established their supremacy with a third goal when Schweinsteiger dispossessed André Santos and squared a pass for Schürrle to crash in powerfully. Neymar pulled another goal back for Brazil in the final minute with a fine effort from the edge of the area, but the night belonged to Germany.