ANKARA
Germany scored four unanswered goals against Portugal in their Group G World Cup match on Monday but a first-half red card was the game's defining moment.
Germany got off to a flying start after their forward Thomas Muller placed a 12th minute penalty into the back of the net and they followed up in the 32nd minute with a headed goal, from a corner, scored by centre-back Mats Hummels.
Demoralized by the goals, Portugal were struggling and centre-back Pepe made matters worse when he was sent off for unsportsmanlike conduct after petulantly head-butting German forward Thomas Muller.
Soon afterwards, Muller closed the second-half out with his second goal. He completed his hat-trick, and sealed Germany's 4-0 win, in the 78th minute when he tucked away a rebound.
In the other game of the group, Ghana take on USA at Estadio das Dunas, Natal on Monday. The game kicks off at 19:00 local time in Brazil.
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