Özil comes of age as Germany triumph

Germany 2-0 South Africa
Mario Gómez and Mesut Özil scored a goal in each half as Germany edged a competitive friendly against the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts in Leverkusen.

Özil landmark
Having struggled to find their fluency of late, Germany coach Joachim Löw opted to utilise Gómez as the lone striker in front of a five-man midfield, and the FC Bayern München man thrived. Having already gone close in a bright opening by the hosts, Gómez broke the deadlock on 35 minutes, firing in from close range after a good combination between Özil and Michael Ballack. The midfielders combined again on the hour when Ballack headed an Özil ball against the upright but South Africa – who had almost profited from a misdirected defensive header from Arne Friedrich before half-time – almost struck on the counterattack, René Adler denying Katlego Mphela. Sami Khedira came on for his debut and the game ended with another first as Özil notched his first senior international goal, collecting Miroslav Klose's pinpoint pass and firing in.