Soccer: Klose double leads Germany past Costa Rica

MUNICH - Miroslav Klose struck twice on his 28th birthday to lead Germany to a 4-2 win over Costa Rica on Friday, getting the soccer World Cup off to a record-breaking start.

The goal total broke the record for the most in the opening match of a finals tournament, surpassing the five scored in France's 4-1 triumph over Mexico in the inaugural competition in 1930.

Full back Philipp Lahm curled in a right-footer from the edge of the box to give Germany a sixth-minute lead in the Group A match played before a 66,000 sellout crowd at the Allianz Arena.

Paulo Wanchope equalised before three-times former champions Germany, missing injured captain Michael Ballack, regained the lead in the 17th minute through Klose.

The Polish-born striker then made it 3-1 when he fired into the roof of the net in the 61st.

Wanchope added his second goal with 17 minutes to go before Torsten Frings grabbed Germany's fourth with a stunning long-range drive in the 87th.

The opening goal was a brilliant piece of work from Lahm. The 22-year-old hared forward to meet a loose ball near the right touchline and cut back inside.

That step was enough to bamboozle the covering defender and Lahm seized his chance to arrow a shot into the far corner, in off the top of the post.

Coach Juergen Klinsmann leaped for joy but he was soon howling at a defensive blunder.

Arne Friedrich dithered as the defence pushed out and Wanchope gratefully took a pass from Ronald Gomez to score.

Germany kept their heads and within five minutes they were in front again.

Bernd Schneider cut the ball back from the right for Bastian Schweinsteiger and the winger set up Klose, who scored a hat-trick in Germany's first match of the last World Cup.

Danny Fonseca planted a free header wide from a corner early in the second half for Costa Rica.

Klose then reacted quickly when his header was saved by keeper Jose Francisco Porras to rifle the ball home and give Germany breathing space.

Wanchope looked marginally offside when he notched his second goal.

"It is always important to start off with a win," Lahm told reporters. "You could see what euphoria there was in the stadium.

"Part of the victory should be credited to the fans. They were the 12th man on the pitch."

Italy crushed the US 7-1 on the first day of the 1934 World Cup but there was no opening game in that competition, with eight matches being played simultaneously.

- REUTERS