An impressive opening 25 minutes was enough to give Germany a 4-2 win over Ecuador in an international friendly at the FAU Stadium in Florida this evening.
Joachim Low's side were 4-0 up thanks to braces from Lukas Podolski and Lars Bender, but a resurgent Ecuador fought their way back into the match.
Goals from Antonio Valencia and Walter Ayovi made the scoreline respectable, but the South Americans could not completely overturn the four-goal deficit.
Read how all the action unfolded below:
Good evening. It's around 30 minutes until kickoff in Florida where Ecuador are preparing to take on a new-look Germany side. Let's take a look at the starting lineups for this evening's game.
ECUADOR STARTING XI: Domunguez, Paredes, Achilier, Erazo, Ayovi, Noboa, Quinonez, Montero, Benitez, Caicedo
GERMANY STARTING XI: Adler, Howedes, Mertesacker, Westermann, Jansen, L Bender, Neustadter, Sam, Draxler, Podolski, M Kruse
Joachim Low may elected to leave some of Germany's better-known names at home, but there are still plenty of established stars in the team, including Arsenal's Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski. Meanwhile, Sidney Sam and Max Kruse both earn their first cap.
Ecuador are coming into the match in strong form, having recently reached their highest ever FIFA ranking, climbing to 10th following a good run in their World Cup qualifying campaign. In March, they thrashed Paraguay 4-1 and face Peru next week, before a tricky clash with Argentina later in June.
Germany have won their last three internationals and are unbeaten in their last eight. They have not dropped a single point so far in the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup. Although several members of tonight's squad are untested, they'll be keen to impress to put themselves in contention for a place in the squad for Brazil next year.
Ecuador and Germany have only played three times previously, with the European side coming away victorious each time. Ecuador will fancy their chances tonight though, with those involved in last week's Champions League final not making the trip.
Ahead of the match, Low told L'Equipe: "We do not have as many talented players as everyone believes. We have some good young players, but I think there are many more in Argentina or Brazil. Defence or attack - Germany must focus to find top young players in these positions. In midfield, we are provided for. But players like Gotze or Reus still have some way to go to become top-class players."
Christian Benitez will be looking to impress potential future employers with tonight's performance. The striker scored 20 goals for Mexican side America this season, and has been touted as a replacement for the seemingly Monaco-bound Radamel Falcao at Atletico Madrid.
The players are heading out onto the pitch ready for the game. As is tradition, there'll be the national anthems before kickoff. It seems to be a largely Ecuador-supporting crowd at the Florida ground, which is far from sold out.
Just time for a quick prediction before kickoff, I'm expecting this to be a close one, but Germany's superior ranking should just secure them the win. I reckon it will be a 2-1 score at full time.
Ecuador get the game underway.
GOAL! Ecuador 0-1 Germany (Podolski)
Well that didn't take very long! Eight seconds to be precise. From the kickoff, Ecuador look to pass the ball back to keeper Alexander Dominguez but the pass doesn't have enough pace and Podolski picks it up on the edge of the box and coolly chips it passed the keeper. That's not the start Ecuador will have been hoping for.
GOAL! Ecuador 0-2 Germany (Bender)
Again it's shocking defending by Ecuador as a Juan Carlos Paredes pass goes astray, and is picked up by Lars Bender, who strikes it straight into the back of the net to give Germany a 2-0 lead with less than four minutes played.
Ecuador looked shell-shocked, they were the underdogs with the bookmakers ahead of kickoff but they will have hoped to have made a better start than this. Germany are easily keeping possession at the minute, it's difficult to see Valencia and co. getting back into this.
CHANCE! Debutant Max Kruse crosses the ball in but Erazo puts it behind for a corner, which Dominguez manages to palm out for another corner. Mertesacker, who is wearing the captain's armband this evening, goes in for the header, but the ball is just beyond his reach.
Ecuador finally string together a decent attacking move, with Valencia and Noboa teaming up in the midfield to feed the ball to Benitez, but the former Birmingham City striker can't control the pass, and Rene Adler comes off his line to gather the ball.
Felipe Caicedo breaks into the box but Germany have numbers back, and it's Bender who takes the ball away from the Lokomotiv Moscow striker. Ecuador are just starting the find their way into this match after a frankly awful start.
GOAL! Ecuador 0-3 Germany (Podolski)
Just as Ecuador seemed to be getting a foothold in this game, Germany strike again. Max Kruse breaks down the left wing and expertly picks out Podolski, who smashes it in with a superb volley from the edge of the box.
Kruse has made a sensational start to his international career. Within 20 minutes of earning his first cap he's caused all sorts of problems down the left-hand side of the pitch, and set up the third.
CHANCE! This time it's the other first-time international Sidney Sam, going for the spectacular with a strike from around 30 yards out. In fairness to the Bayer Leverkusen man it's not a bad effort, going just a couple of feet wide.
GOAL! Ecuador 0-4 Germany (Bender)
Draxler feeds the ball through to Podolski, but the Arsenal man is well-marked so picks out Lars Bender, who fires in his second of the night with a lob from just outside the box, catching keeper Dominguez napping.
Ecuador finally have some possession in Germany's half but it really is a fruitless exercise. Die Mannschaft have numbers back and comfortably block any attempt by the South Americans to break through towards Adler.
CHANCE! Ecuador's first decent chance of the game fall's to Jefferson Montero who attempts to power the ball home. Adler is alert but the strike goes just high. Adler's goal kick is regained by Ecuador in midfield though, and Montero is pushing forward again.
Benitez charges towards the Germany penalty area but there are numbers in front of him and he fails to spot Monero to his left, allowing an easy block and clearance for the Germans.
CHANCE! Caicedo tests Adler with a strike from deep inside the box, but the angle is awkward and it's a comfortable stop. The striker appears to have injured himself in the process though. This would be a big loss for Ecuador.
SUB! Unfortunately Caicedo does have to go off, which what looks like an ankle injury. Midfielder Renato Ibarra replaces him.
Kruse breaks down the left wing again, and displays some impresses speed and footwork to break into the Ecuador box, but he has no teammates up to help him, and Ecuador make the clearance.
Germany have an injury worry as Lars Bender goes down clutching his ankle. The team's doctors take him to the sideline for treatment but it doesn't look like Germany are preparing a substitute, so he should be ok to continue.
Ecuador win a free kick, which Ibarra delivers, but it's a wasted effort, as it manages not to test Adler or find his teammates, heading out for a Germany throw in.
CHANCE! Ecuador take the ball back from the thrown in and Valencia unleashes a powerful strike from the edge of the box, forcing Adler to make a good save. Ecuador have looked threatening in the last 10 minutes.
Incidentally, Bender is now back on the pitch after a couple of minutes worth of treatment.
GOAL! Ecuador 1-4 Germany (Valencia)
Just before half time, Ecuador manage to reduce Germany's lead, as Valencia snatches the ball away from Mertesacker just inside the penalty box, and it's a superb finish from the Manchester United man to beat Adler.
HALF TIME: Ecuador 1-4 Germany
Well that was a busy 45 minutes! Germany made a lightening-fast start to the match, with Lukas Podolski putting the world number two ranked team ahead after just eight seconds. Despite Germany amassing a 4-0 advantage within 25 minutes, Ecuador showed impressive spirit to get themselves into the game, rounding it off with a well-deserved goal just before the break.
San Marino fans will no doubt be delighted to hear that Podolski's goal doesn't quite beat Davide Gualtieri's 8.3 second effort against England as the fastest goal in an international.
Historically, Germany don't ease up even when they have a comfortable lead. In March they cruised past Kazakhstan with a 4-1 scoreline, while the Republic of Ireland took a 6-1 whipping last year. However, Ecuador have been able to slow down Joachim Low's side, with some strong attacking play in the final 15 minutes of the first half.
You can also follow updates from England's friendly with the Republic of Ireland with Sports Mole this evening. It's currently 1-1.
Ecuador are back out for the second half but Germany seem to be making the most of the break.
And here come Germany. Will we get another five goals this half? It's almost time to find out.
Germany get the second half underway.
Well, it's already a better start to this half than the first for Ecuador. Germany try to feed the ball through towards the Ecuador penalty area, but the South Americans make the clearance before play is stopped because of a second ball on the pitch.
By the way, there were no changes for either side at half time.
Germany seem happy just to keep possession, having struggled to get the ball late in the first half, but Ecuador take it away again and Montero goes for goal from the edge of the box, but he mis-hits and it goes high.
CHANCE! Valencia takes a strike from a similar range to that which he scores from in the first half, but this time Adler is expecting it, and manged to make the save and keep hold of the ball, with Benitez rushing in in case he spills.
CHANCE! Yet more pressure from Ecuador gives Benitez a chance to head in from close range, but Adler punches away and Sam goes on the counter attack for Germany showing off his impressive pace.
Ecuador's impressive start to the second half continues, with Benitez looking to get a shot away, but Jansen steals the ball away. Draxler, who has a heavily strapped wrist, goes down the other end and takes a tumble in the penalty area, but the referee isn't interested in awarded a spot kick.
Draxler appears to have hurt himself in the run up to his strike, having been caught on the ankle by the defender, but he's ok to continue.
SUB! It's a change for Germany as Draxler is replaces by Werder Bremen's Aaron Hunt, who has not played for Germany since 2010.
Benitez charges towards Germany's goal, but Mertesacker beats him to the ball and puts it out for a corner. Valencia delivers it but Bender makes the clearance before Ecuador can get a strike in. Ecuador are back on the ball straight away though, but a Montero effort is wildly off-target.
CHANCES! Adler is forced to make a double save as Montero goes for goal again, but the German keeper is sharp. He's been kept busy in the opening 15 minutes of this second half.
SUBS! Ecuador make a double change, bringing Pedro Quinonez and Jose Rojas on in place of Christian Benitez and Christian Naboa.
CHANCE! Neustadter gives the ball away and Valencia picks out Montero. Montero thinks about going for goal but crosses to Rojas instead, but the substitute hasn't got his eye in yet and doesn't find the target. Ecuador are definitely looking good value for a second goal though.
Sidney Sam gets the ball to Podolski will a beautifully-weighted pass, and the Arsenal man looks for Kruse, but the debutant is judged to have fouled his marker, giving Ecuador a free kick.
SUBS! More changes for both sides as Jorge Guagua comes on for Achilier, and Neustadter is replaced by Stefan Reinartz.
There's a bit of a scuffle as Ibarra goes in a bit aggressively on Podolski, incurring the displeasure of the Arsenal man, but the referee steps in before it gets out of hand.
Podolski looks for his hat-trick, but his strike is deflected wide for a corner. Hunt gets a head to the ball from the delivery, but it goes well wide, and Ecuador are on the attack again.
BOOKING! Lars Bender picks up a yellow card for a rather rash challenge on Ayovi. Valencia takes the free kick, but fails to cause any problems for the German defence.
It's all getting a bit scrappy at the minute. Germany have struggled to contain Ecuador throughout this second half, and some rather clumsy challenges are starting to fly in out of desperation and probably some frustration. Meanwhile, Ecuador are starting to let Germany see a bit more of the ball.
Germany's strong start may have been aided by some horrendous defending by their opponent's, but they've looked a shadow of their first-half selves in this second half.
CHANCE! It's yet another effort by Ecuador, this time Ibarra with the finishing touch, but again Adler makes the save. The Hamburg keeper has had a lot to do since the re-start, but has put in an impressive performance.
SUB! Ecuador make another change, taking off Jefferson Montero, who has put in an impressive shift. Marlon de Jesus takes his place.
GOAL! Ecuador 2-4 Germany (Ayovi)
Ecuador win a free kick just outside the penalty area, and captain Walter Ayovi steps up to take it. Germany's wall offers little protection to Adler in the goal, but it's a brilliant delivery from Ayovi to leave Ecuador just two goals down.
Germany finally seem to have started playing in this second half, as Podolski and Reinartz bear down on the goal, but the game is interrupted by the arrival of a man wearing nothing put a pair of grey boxers!
With the pitch invader cleared, Ecuador get the ball away from their goal. Meanwhile, Nicolai Muller comes on for a late cameo, replacing Lukas Podolski.
With the pitch invader cleared, Ecuador get the ball away from their goal. Meanwhile, Nicolai Muller comes on for a late cameo, replacing Lukas Podolski.
There's yet more pressure from Ecuador late on. They force corner, but Germany make the clearance, but it only goes as far as Quinonez, who has been largely anonymous since coming off the bench. However, he unleashes a rocket from 20 yards out, and it only just misses the target.
CHANCE! Rojas goes for goal late in the game, but it's well wide. As the rain starts to pour in Florida, that should be all there's time for.
CHANCE! Rojas goes for goal late in the game, but it's well wide. As the rain starts to pour in Florida, that should be all there's time for.
FULL TIME: Ecuador 2-4 Germany
FULL TIME: Ecuador 2-4 Germany
Well that really was a game of two halves. Germany dominated the opening spell, racing to a 4-0 lead inside in the first 25 minutes. However, Ecuador's impressive fighting spirit saw them shut down the German attack in the second half, and ended up putting in a respectable performance. With some stronger defending at the start of the match, that could easily have been an Ecuador win.
Germany will be relieved to have some of their regular first-choice players back for their game against the United states in their next friendly. Meanwhile, Ecuador will be hoping that the injury that forced Felipe Caicedo off in the first half isn't too serious, as they have two qualifiers coming up in the next fortnight.
That's all from the FAU Stadium this evening, although you can catch the final 10 minutes of England's game against the Republic of Ireland. Thanks for joining me this evening, good bye!
Written by
Sian Cowper
Sian Cowper
