Germany 2 - 0 Belgium

Germany 2-0 Belgium: Schweinsteiger on target

Updated: August 20, 2008, 8:00 AM UK

NUREMBERG, August 20 (International Friendly) - Second-half goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger and Marko Marin lifted Germany to victory over Belgium in an international friendly on Wednesday night.

Schweinsteiger struck from the spot in the 59th before Marin's beautiful strike put the one-sided issue beyond doubt 13 minutes from time.

Playing without injured midfielders Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings, Germany made a strong start with Piotr Trochowski firing a first warning shot from the left channel after just 75 seconds which was saved by Stijn Stijnen.

A nice one-two between Philipp Lahm and Schweinsteiger then created room for Lukas Podolski only for the Bayern Munich star to hit the side-netting from 10 yards.

Daniel Van Buyten then wasted an opening for Belgium when he blasted a 25-yard free-kick against the wall.

Germany almost grabbed the lead after 12 minutes when Thomas Hitzlsperger intercepted a pass and sent Podolski clear. The striker got the ball past the onrushing Stijnen who connected with a kick at Podolski to bring the German down, but no foul was given.

The Belgian goalkeeper used more orthodox methods to maintain his clean sheet four minutes later, denying Miroslav Klose from close range after he was played in by Hitzlsperger.

Three minutes later Belgium had their first real scoring opportunity following a strong run by Axel Witsel, who outfoxed Lahm on the right and found Tom De Sutter with his cross only for the striker's effort to go the wrong side of the post with Robert Enke beaten.

Schweinsteiger came close in the 22nd minute when he was left unmarked at the far post following a cross from the left but his volley flew over the crossbar.

Hitzlsperger tried his luck with a long-distance effort in the 39th minute before the first half came to a close with neither team having made the breakthrough.

Stijnen was on alert again early in the second half when he cleared a long pass ahead of onrushing substitute Kevin Kuranyi.

Lahm then came close with a curled effort from 25 yards out which Stijnen diverted round the post.

Schweinsteiger eventually broke the deadlock in the 59th when he calmly fired home from the spot after Van Buyten had wrestled Mario Gomez to the floor in the box.

And after Bart Goor fired over the last chance for the visitors, substitute Marin put the issue beyond doubt as he played a superb one-two with Lahm, rounded a defender and curled the ball home.