There has been no shortage of effort from Azerbaijan this evening and they're battling right until the end, but they have been simply outclassed by Die Mannschaft.
90'
There will be three minutes of added time.
Gorbunov sends a low cross into the box that Howedes fails to clear, but Nazarov fails to capitalise on the defender's mistake.
89'
S. Rudy enters the game and replaces T. Kroos.
Rudy replaces Kroos for Die Mannschaft.
The match is slowly petering out and both sets of players look like they want this one over and done with as soon as possible.
87'
E. İsrafilov enters the game and replaces R. Əmirquliyev.
Amirguliyev is replaced by İsrafilov for the closing stages of the match.
85'
Germany are playing keep ball with ease in and around the Azerbaijan box. The home side look completely drained of energy now.
84'
L. Sané enters the game and replaces J. Draxler.
Sane comes on for the closing stages of the match to replac Draxler.
83'
B. Höwedes gets yellow.
Howedes goes into the book for a loose challenge.
82'
Qurbanov replaces Ismayilov for the home side.
81'
R. Qurbanov enters the game and replaces Ə. İsmayılov.
A. Schürrle has scored a goal for Germany! Assist by J. Hector.
GOALLLL!!! SCHURRLE NOTCHES A BRACE! The Dortmund man gets his second of the game and it's almost a carbon copy of the opener as Hector picks him out in the box. However, on this occasion, he hammers the ball beyond the reach of Agayev rather than placing his effort.
Hector collects his second assist of the game with clever run and pass to pick out Schurrle.
Minute
Description
78'
PENALTY SHOUT! Garayev collects a loose ball on the edge of the box from a corner and hammers a strike at goal. The ball hits Hummels in front of the net and the home side appeal for a spot-kick, but their claims are dismissed by the referee.
77'
CHANCE! Khedira raids into the right inside channel, but he opts to go for goal from a tight angle, despite having support in the box. As a result, Agayev is able to make a comfortable save.
76'
Yilmaz almost leads a breakaway down the middle, but he cannot link-up with Ismaliyov, allowing Howedes to step in and make the clearance.
74'
Germany are almost at walking pace now and seem quite content to sit on their lead and only commit men forward when the opportunity presents itself.
72'
The tempo of the game is suffering at the moment due to Germany's inclination to sit back. Azerbaijan are probing, but the world champions are looking solid.
70'
Kroos slides the ball to Kimmich down the right and the Bayern man tries to pick out Muller's run, but makes a rare mistake, sending the ball out for a goal-kick.
68'
WIDE! Azerbaijan win a corner down the right and Ismaliyov swings the ball in from the flank. Badavi Huseynov rises highest in the area to head at goal, but he puts his effort wide of the target.
67'
D. Yılmaz enters the game and replaces R. Şeydayev.
Sheydaev makes way for Yilmaz for the home side.
64'
WIDE! Hummels floats a pass into the box for Muller to chase. The forward wants a penalty for a pull on his shirt by Badavi Huseynov, but the referee waves play. The ball from Hummels almost creeps into the corner, with Agayev having to dive to see the ball drift past the post.
63'
Ismaliyov was effective in the first half, but he has been slightly disappointing in the second period. He wastes a promising opening for his team, misplacing a pass straight into the hands of Leno.
61'
M. Özil enters the game and replaces M. Gómez.
Gomez is done for the evening as he is replaced by Ozil.
60'
Germany are not quite operating at their best in the final third in this contest. They've still scored three goals, highlighting their quality, but the scary thing is we all know they can perform better.
59'
Ismaliyov makes an interesting decision to head Kimmich's cross from the free-kick back into danger, but the visitors are unable to capitalise.
58'
Germany earn a chance to send another threatening delivery into the box as Kimmich is fouled by Nazarov. Kroos stands over the ball, waiting to take the set-piece.
56'
WIDE! Muller tees up Schurrle on the edge of the box and he blasts a strike towards goal. It deflects off Mirzabekov and drifts inches past the post. So close to a fourth goal for the visitors.
55'
Kimmich lifts a threatening cross into the box for Schurrle to challenge, but between Mirzabekov and Huseyov, the home side manage to clear the ball away from the six-yard box.
53'
Pashaev raids down the left flank and beats the challenge of Kimmich to break to the byline. However, he cannot force the ball across the face of goal, allowing the visitors to clear the danger.
52'
BLOCK! Sadiqov again is in the action in front of his own goal, making a solid block to stop Schurrle's strike on the half-volley that looked to be heading goalwards.
50'
SHOT! Germany work the ball around the edge of the box before Muller takes on the shot from a central position, but he fires his strike straight at Agayev.
48'
Sheydaev attempts to send Ismaliyov down the right flank, but he gets too much on his pass and it trickles out for a goal-kick.
47'
Gomez goes for goal from distance after collecting the ball 25 yards from goal, only to send his effort well over the bar. He was quiet in the first half before scoring.
46'
We're underway again in Baku.
Azerbaijan have an early raid forward as Ismaliyov fires a cross to the back post. Amirguliyev goes for goal with a strike from distance, but he can only fire his effort straight into Howedes, who clears the danger.
45' +1
The referee ends the first half.
45'
M. Gómez has scored a goal for Germany! Assist by J. Kimmich.
GOALLL!!! GOMEZ HEADS HOME! Germany notch a third goal before the break as Kimmich sends a peach of a cross to the back post and Gomez beats Mirzabekov in the air to angle his header beyond the reach of Agayev into the net.
Kimmich surges down the flank before sending an inch-perfect cross to the back post for Gomez to head home.
There will be one minute of added time.
44'
Cavid Huseynov almost blocks Howedes' pass on the edge of the Germany box, but the ball deflects off his foot and goes out for a goal-kick.
42'
WIDE! Ismayilov weaves his way into the final third once again and he beats Hector to create room for a strike, only to hammer his effort into the side-netting.
41'
Sadiqov does extremely well under pressure as he receives an unwanted pass from Cavid Huseynov and he manages to beat Muller with a neat piece of skill on the edge of his own box before clearing.
39'
CHANCE! Muller releases Schurrle into acres of space on the left, but the forward takes a poor first touch and sees his eventual effort block. Draxler collects, but he fails to sort his feet out in the box as well.
38'
Germany's response has taken the air out of the stadium. It has not been a great performance from Die Mannschaft, but they've been clinical enough in the final third.
36'
T. Müller has scored a goal for Germany! Assist by A. Schürrle.
Schurrle seizes on the loose ball and sends a fine pass behind the home side's backline for Muller to latch on to and score.
GOALLL!!! MULLER RESPONDS! Germany retake the lead just when the home side thought they had cleared the danger as Muller rounds Agayev before slotting the ball into the net. Azerbaijan lost possession on a counter and Schurrle sent the forward behind the backline, allowing to fire the world champions back in front.
34'
Die Mannschaft win a free-kick on the edge of the box as Sadiqov trips Kimmich. The Azerbaijan skipper escapes booking, but the Die Mannschaft can threaten here.
33'
That will jolt Germany back into life as they had just been a bit sloppy with some of their passing in the final third. Azerbaijan have looked lively on the break.
31'
D. Nazarov has scored a goal for Azerbaijan! Assist by Ə. İsmayılov.
Ismayilov had success down the right in the early stages of the game, and continues that with a fine run and cross to pick out Nazarov.
GOALLLLL!!!! NAZAROV EQUALISES! WHAT A MOMENT FOR AZERBAIJAN! Ismayilov cuts Germany apart down the right and he sends a cross to the left for his team-mate. Nazarov takes a touch inside to beat Khedira before firing a perfect low strike beyond the reach of Leno.
29'
Badavi Huseynov leads a break from the back for the home side, but as he tries to link up with Sheydaev - Hummels comes across to win back possession for the visitors.
28'
Germany work the ball quickly in the final third, creating space for Muller to have a strike. The forward blasts his effort at goal, only for Badavi Huseynov to make another important block.
26'
On this occasion Howedes' sliding pass to Kimmich goes out of play, but Die Mannschaft are dominant at the moment.
25'
Germany are in complete control of possession and are attempting to manoeuvre the Azerbaijan backline out of shape by moving the ball quickly in the middle of the park.
23'
WIDE! Kroos sends the corner into the box, which is cleared by the home side. Kimmich collects and goes for the blast from distance, only to send his strike wide of the post.
22'
CHANCE! Germany should make it two as Schurrle sends a dangerous cross to the back post that deflects into Kimmich's path. He blasts the ball across the face of goal, but Sadiqov is on hand to clear away before Agayev sweeps it away from the Bayern man before he threaten again.
19'
A. Schürrle has scored a goal for Germany! Assist by J. Hector.
GOALLLL!!!! SCHURRLE OPENS THE SCORING! Germany take the lead with a swift attacking move that culminates in Schurrle converting from close range. Draxler picked out the run of Hector down the left and the full-back sent a low ball across the face of goal, allowing the forward to slot his effort home.
Hector makes a good run down the left and sends a fine cross into the six-yard box for Schurrle to score.
18'
Die Mannschaft break down the right and Kimmich attempts to angle his cross into the box for Muller, but his cross heads straight into the side-netting.
16'
Ismayilov breaks behind the Germany defence down the left and he sends a cross to the back post, only for Kimmich to head clear away from the lurking presence of Nazarov.
15'
CLOSE! Hector collects again on the edge of the box and this time his strike gets through the wall of blue shirts, but his effort drifts inches past the post.
14'
Khedira moves in the right direction this time as he raids down the right and wins a corner off the legs of Sadiqov.
Kroos' cross is cleared only as far as Hector on the edge of the box and his strike on the half-volley is deflected behind for another corner, despite the best efforts of Agayev to keep the ball in play.
12'
S. Khedira gets yellow.
Khedira loses possession and is forced to bring down Nazarov on the break away. The midfielder will miss Germany's next qualifier.
11'
BLOCK! Hector surges down the left flank before cutting the ball back across the edge of the box for Kroos to strike. However, Sadiqov is there to make an important block to stop his effort threatening the net.
9'
Nazarov collects on the left flank and he attempts to drop the ball into the right inside channle for Ismayilov, but his pass just has too much power on it and travels out for a goal-kick.
7'
Mirzabekov makes a strong challenge on Draxler as he attempts to break down the left. The home side are going to need a lot of those tackles today to keep the world champions at bay.
5'
Germany have control of possession now and immediately every single blue shirt drops backs into the Azerbaijan half.
3'
CHANCE! Muller brushes off the challenge of Pashaev to latch on to Draxler's header. He fires the ball across the face of goal, but Badavi Huseynov clears the danger in front of his own net.
2'
A decent start from the home side as they enjoy a spell of possession in the middle of the park after putting Die Mannschaft under pressure at the back.
1'
We're underway in Baku.
The world champions warmed up for his fixture with a narrow 1-0 win over England during the week. Lukas Podolski signed off his international career in style with a stunning strike to hand his side the win, although Joachim Low will want to see an improved performance today.
Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the World Cup qualifying clash between Azerbaijan and Germany.
Die Mannschaft are well on course of qualify for the defence of their crown, having won all four of their fixtures thus far in qualifying. Germany put eight past San Marino in their last match and will be eyeing a similar result this evening.
Azerbaijan have not been the pushovers that people would have believed before the start of the group. Robert Prosineck's men defeated San Marino and Norway in their opening two matches before drawing against the Czech Republic.
Northern Ireland did get the better of them in their last contest - in a 4-0 defeat at Windsor Park. However, Azerbaijan are in the battle for second place - level on points with Michael O'Neill's side.
The team news has been announced and we'll start with the home side.
Azerbaijan defeated Qatar 2-1 in a friendly match earlier this month, but have made five changes from their line-up that day. Ramil Sheydaev, Dimitrij Nazarov, Afran Ismayilov, Pavel Pashaev and Kamran Agayev all come into the side.
Low has made seven changes from his side's win over England during the week. Podolski drops out after playing his final international game, allowing Thomas Muller to come back into the side.
Bernd Leno replaces Marc-Andre Ter Stegen between the sticks, while Benedikt Howedes, Andre Schurrle, Julian Draxler, Sami Khedira and Mario Gomez all get the starts today.
The teams are out on the pitch for the anthems, so we should be underway shortly.
Azerbaijan subs: Israfilov, Yilmaz, Qurbanov, E Mammadov, Mahmudov, Quliyev, Ramazanov, A Mammadov, Medvedev, Nazarov, Abdullayev, Abbasov.
HALF-TIME: AZERBAIJAN 1-3 GERMANY
Mario Gomez's goal on the stroke of half-time has given Germany complete control of the contest against Azerbaijan. Andre Schurrle put Die Mannschaft ahead, but Dimitrij Nazarov stunned the visitors with an equaliser in the 31st minute.
However, Thomas Muller put Joachim Low's side back ahead with a neat finish before Gomez scored the vital goal with a fine header to put Germany in command.
The players are back out for the second half, so we should be underway again shortly.
AZERBAIJAN (4-2-3-1): Agayev; Pashaev, B Huseynov, Sadiqov, Mirzabekov; Qarayev, Amirguliyev; Ismayilov, C Huseynov, Nazarov; Sheydaev.
Germany maintain their 100% record in their World Cup qualifying campaign with a comfortable win over Azerbaijan this evening.
FULL-TIME: AZERBAIJAN 1-4 GERMANY
However, Germany’s class prevailed in the end and they are now well on course to book their place in Russia next year to defend their crown, while Robert Prosinecki’s men must regroup in their battle for the second spot in Group C.
A brace from Andre Schurrle and along with strikes from Thomas Muller and Mario Gomez have secured the win, although an effort from Dimitrij Nazarov did stun Die Mannschaft in the first half.
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.
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