There will be three minutes added on at the end of this match.
89'
The good news for Northern Ireland is that Czech Republic are still tied in the final minutes against in-form Azerbaijan. A draw there would prevent the Czechs from gaining much ground in what should be considered a must-win fixture for them.
87'
STAT: Germany have won five successive matches over Northern Ireland (set to become six), since a 1-1 draw in a November 1996 World Cup qualifier.
85'
Northern Ireland enjoy their first spell in possession in a while, though it's not coming in a dangerous area by any means. Germany don't press to win it back, either, but it eventually is gifted to them as a forced ball over the top is won back calmly by Hummels.
83'
The tempo has really fizzled out here, with both teams content on seeing this one out to the finish line. Germany still are showing some inclination to try and grab a third, to make it three successive 3-0 wins to open up their qualifying campaign.
81'
K. Volland enters the game and replaces J. Hector.
This isn't as attacking a change as it looks, considering Hector has essentially played as a winger tonight. He's replaced by Kevin Volland for the final 10 minutes.
80'
McGovern concedes a needless corner, getting his hands to a strike from a tight angle that was going more than a few feet wide. The Northern Ireland defence is in desperate need of a bit of respite, but it doesn't look like they're going to get it.
78'
STAT: Northern Ireland had not conceded more than one goal in their last 19 internationals. The last time their nets were rattled more than once, before tonight, was in November 2014 against Romania (0-2).
76'
K. Lafferty enters the game and replaces J. Magennis.
Final change for Northern Ireland here as Kyle Lafferty replaces Magennis.
Minute
Description
74'
S. Ferguson gets yellow.
Ferguson is booked for a careless and reckless challenge near the corner flag, sliding through Kimmich long after the ball had gone.
73'
P. McNair enters the game and replaces O. Norwood.
Paddy McNair replaces Norwood for the final 20 minutes.
71'
Much of the same going on here. Germany poking around in attack and Northern Ireland barely hanging on. Any hopes of a comeback can be forgotten - it's simply a matter of damage control now for the Green and White Army.
69'
S. Mustafi enters the game and replaces J. Boateng.
Boateng is replaced for the final 20 minutes here, not because of an injury though. Shkodran Mustafi is on in his place.
67'
Fatigue has set in here for Northern Ireland. They're struggling to keep their legs going as Germany get forward with regularity and have the ball contained predominantly in the final third. The visitors are being pinned back here and can seemingly find no way out.
65'
STAT: Germany have won the last five meetings between the sides, scoring 15 goals and conceding just two in that run.
63'
FERGUSON! Well Kimmich has been excellent throughout, but he's really come to life here. Two great runs get the crowd going, but a pair of delightful interventions by Ferguson are enough to see him aside.
61'
N. McGinn enters the game and replaces J. Ward.
Ward has grown tired over the course of the hour and is set to be replaced here by another speedy forward in Niall McGinn.
58'
Germany always seem to have a spare man in attack. Northern Ireland have everyone back, but it still seems as though they're playing short-handed. It's obviously not the case, but the movement and passing of this Germany side is just so hard to deal with.
56'
REMARKABLE! It's not every day you see a centre-half play a ball of that sort of quality! Boateng lifts a delivery 25 yards over the top, serving it on a platter to Gotze, but the forward's attempted header across goal is bundled behind by Hodson!
54'
STAT: Germany have won eight matches in a row in World Cup qualifying, scoring 27 goals over that span.
52'
McGovern saves! Right place at the right time for the keeper, who gets a bit lucky in the end as Khedira can't get enough of his redirection in the centre to divert the ball beyond the keeper's reach! Germany asking all sorts of questions here.
50'
Germany have a bit more urgency about them. You get the sense that they want one more goal to put this game to bed, as they become a bit wary of the threat posed by the visitors following their excellent end to the first half.
48'
Delightful start to the half from Germany and they nearly add to their lead as Gundogan gets on the end of a flick-on inside the area, but it's blocked at the vital moment. No way out here for Northern Ireland.
46'
İ. Gündoğan enters the game and replaces M. Özil.
Ilkay Gundogan replaces Ozil at the break.
Here we go again!
45'
HALF-TIME: GERMANY 2-0 NORTHERN IRELAND.
43'
Wasted opportunity, that, from the visitors, as Norwood lifts his effort more than a few feet over the bar from the resulting free-kick.
42'
WAS IT A PENALTY?! It wasn't! Great decision from the referee! Ward is sprung into space down the right, and he cuts inside before being tripped up by Boateng on the very edge of the area. Northern Ireland shout penalty, but the referee rightfully awards a free-kick.
41'
STAT: Germany have now scored at least a goal in 37 consecutive World Cup qualifying matches. The last time they failed to find the back of the net was in a 0-0 draw away to Ukraine in June 1997.
39'
SAVE NEUER! Magennis is proving himself to be a menace atop the attack, making the most of his limited opportunities with some relentless running. The forward gets behind the Germany defence and has a clean look at goal, but he's thwarted from a tight angle by Neuer at the near post.
37'
IT WON'T COUNT! Germany have scored some lovely goals in qualifying, but that may have been the best of the bunch (had it counted, of course). A stunning ball over the top is met by Muller at the far post. He pulls it back with a delightful first-time volley, before Gotze run forward to meet it and turn it in with his first touch as well, but Muller was flagged for offside by a mere few inches!
35'
Northern Ireland playing with fire in their own end. They're trying to pass their way out from the back in tight situations and it has seen them concede possession is dangerous areas. Thankfully for them, there's so many bodies back to combat it, but that simply won't cut it should it continue.
33'
WONDERFUL READ! Great decision from McGovern to come off his line there! A cross in from Kroos seems destined to find Kimmich at the far post, but McGovern flies through the air to punch clear at full stretch!
31'
Magennis is putting in some excellent work off the ball. It's as if he sensed it was too easy for Germany and has flipped on the gas, running at them high up the pitch to make life uncomfortable in possession - and he's twice forced them to retreat now.
29'
STAT: This is the first meeting between the two sides in Germany since September 1999, a 4-0 victory for Die Mannschaft in Dortmund, propelled by a Christian Ziege hat-trick.
27'
STRAIGHT AT NEUER! Everything there in the build-up was top notch, it just needed a finish! The ball over the top from Johnny Evans is inch perfect, picking out the run of Ward, who produces a sublime first touch to take him round the defender, but in the end the pressure gets to him as he rolls a tame strike right at the keeper!
25'
More concentrated pressure from Germany, passing it around neatly along the fringes, patiently waiting for their opening. Draxler finds space on the flank and pulls it back for Kroos, but the midfielder's throughball for Kimmich runs behind. He should have taken the shot on there.
23'
Back in possession are the hosts, and it's all too comfortable for them on the ball. Northern Ireland are keen to keep their shape at the back, but as a result they're not pressing the ball with any intensity, and it's turning into a walk in the park for Germany because of it.
21'
Northern Ireland enjoy their first spell in attack here, and they're doing well to keep the ball deep in the German end. A long throw is knocked behind by Hummels at full stretch, but the subsequent corner is poor, as it's cleared by the first defender at the near post.
19'
STAT: Germany have scored 37 goals in their last 10 World Cup qualifying matches, an average of 3.7 per game (W8, D2). They have scored a minimum of three goals in each of those 10 matches.
17'
S. Khedira has scored a goal for Germany! Assist by M. Hummels.
Hummels with the assist, unselfishly heading that back into the danger area instead of going for goal himself.
MAKE IT TWO! In the blink of an eye, Germany hold a commanding lead! A cross in from the left is headed back towards goal smartly by Hummels, and Khedira finds himself unmarked at the near post to easily tuck a finish past an unsuspecting McGovern.
15'
The onslaught continues here from Germany, who look to make it two in quick succession. Northern Ireland are at sixes and sevens at the back as the pressure only grows here, despite Germany having their opener.
13'
J. Draxler has scored a goal for Germany!
THERE IT IS! Well once again, Germany lead inside of 15 minutes! Draxler gets on the end of a terrific bit of interplay, and he finishes confidently from the edge of the box, slotting a lovely strike into the far corner and out of the reach of McGovern!
Another assist for Muller, who continues to play a crucial role for Germany in these qualifiers.
11'
Germany win a free-kick in a threatening position down the right flank. The delivery is only partially dealt with, falling for Draxler, but his shot can't find its way through the cluster of bodies in the area, before the follow-up from Hector is lifted over the bar.
9'
STAT: Northern Ireland's last victory against Germany dates back to 16 November 1983. They won 1-0 in Hamburg thanks to a goal by Norman Whiteside.
7'
IMPORTANT INTERVENTION! These young German full-backs love to get forward and they're capable of providing some real capable deliveries. Hector finds space on the left and drills a low, diagonal ball into the box, but McAuley stretches out to clear the threat.
5'
Germany scored inside of 15 minutes in both their 3-0 victories over Norway and Czech Republic, so it's crucial for Northern Ireland to be able to weather this early storm and come out of it unscathed. They've been issued a few early warnings already, with the hosts continuing to dominate possession.
3'
SHARP SAVE! McGovern called into action for what's expected to be the first of many times tonight. It's a free header from six yards for Gotze, following a great run and delivery from Muller, but the keeper reacts brilliantly to parry!
1'
AND WE'RE OFF! Germany, in their white tops, get us underway, attacking left to right, with Norther Ireland in green shirts and white shorts.
Hello and welcome to live coverage from the HDI-Arena in Hannover as Germany aim to maintain their perfect start to qualifying when they play host to a resurgent Northern Ireland side.
Successive 3-0 victories over Norway and Czech Republic to start their qualifying campaign have Germany perched atop Group C, aiming to book their place in Russia 2018 with plenty of time to spare.
The defending world champions figured to have their toughest competition from the likes of the Czech Republic, but it’s Northern Ireland who seem likely to pose the biggest threat, at least early on.
The Green and White Army have four points through two matches, building a comfortable lead over the likes of Norway and the Czechs, as they search for a first ever appearance in the World Cup.
Joachim Low names an unchanged starting line-up following a resounding 3-0 victory over the Czech Republic. Mario Gotze continues to lead the line, supported by Mesut Ozil and flanked by Julian Draxler and Thomas Muller.
Michael O'Neill has made three changes to the more attack-minded side he trotted out at home to San Marino, understandably so, while also switching to a five-man back line. Rangers full-back Lee Hodson and Kerala Blasters centre-half Aaron Hughes are brought into the team, as is Blackburn midfielder Corry Evans. Conor McLaughlin, Niall McGinn and Stuart Dallas are dropped to make room.
Germany in control at the break as two goals in four minutes from Julian Draxler and Sami Khedira have them comfortably ahead. It could have been worse for Northern Ireland as Germany continued to pour the pressure on, but it could have been a lot better for them as well, based on their strong finish to the half.
Goals from Julian Draxler and Sami Khedira maintain Die Mannschaft's perfect start to qualifying, as they cruise past Northern Ireland tonight in Hannover. That's all for our live coverage, thanks for following along. Goodbye!
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