Germany vs Russia Highlights Video

Germany 2 - 1 Russia
9' Lukas Podolski Goal 1 - 0
28' Michael Ballack Goal 2 - 0
51' 2 - 1 Goal Andrei Arshavin

Germany retained top spot in World Cup qualifying Group Four after first-half goals from Lukas Podolski and Michael Ballack gave them a 2-1 win over Russia on Saturday.

Podolski opened the scoring when he picked up Miroslav Klose's pass on the edge of the penalty area in the ninth minute, hustled his way around defender Vasily Berezutsky and slammed the ball past Igor Akinfeyev in the Russian goal.

Captain Ballack was in the right place to double Germany's lead 20 minutes later by side-footing home Bastian Schweinsteiger's clever cross with Akinfeyev stranded.