YOKOHAMA, Japan, 17 December 2004 — Germany banished their 2002 World Cup ghosts with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Japan in the first match of their three-game tour of Asia yesterday.

Miroslav Klose scored twice and captain Michael Ballack was also on target for injury-depleted Germany in Yokohama, scene of their 2-0 defeat by Brazil in the 2002 World Cup final.

Striker Klose put Germany ahead in the 54th minute, poking home from close range after Japan goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki had spilled a Ballack free kick. Ballack made it 2-0 in the 69th minute with a brilliant curling shot from 25 metres after good work from Gerald Asamoah.

Klose added a deserved third in stoppage time in the first meeting between the two countries, beating Narazaki with a low left-foot shot. Ballack, who missed the World Cup final through suspension, came close in the first half but the Bayern Munich playmaker was denied by a superb double save from Narazaki in the 15th minute.

Auxerre’s Kalou Dumps Rangers Out of Europe

In London, Striker Bonaventure Kalou scored twice to send AJ Auxerre through to the first knockout round of the UEFA Cup at the expense of Rangers on Wednesday.

The stylish French side’s 2-0 win at Ibrox in their final Group F clash put them into the last 32 and eliminated the Scottish side after Austria’s Graz AK did enough to seal their passage with a 2-0 home victory over group winners AZ Alkmaar.

Rangers had won their first two games and even after a defeat by Alkmaar needed only a point against Auxerre to progress, but their hopes were dashed by the Ivory Coast striker scoring early in both halves.

Middlesbrough, AZ Alkmaar, VfB Stuttgart and Lille went through as group winners and will avoid one of the eight sides dropping down from the Champions League in today’s draw.

Three teams from each of the eight five-team groups progress to the knockout rounds.

Auxerre made the perfect start on a mild night in Glasgow when Kalou scored at the second attempt after his initial effort from Benjani’s chip had hit the crossbar after nine minutes.

Germany’s VfB Stuttgart and Heerenveen from the Netherlands grabbed the final two spots from Group G. Stuttgart edged to a nervy 2-1 win at home against Dinamo Zagreb to leapfrog Benfica at the top. Christian Tiffert did well to control a through ball from Kevin Kuranyi and clip a shot across keeper Vladimir Vasilj for the opener after 15 minutes.

Defeat ended Zagreb’s interest in the competition as Heerenveen got the win they needed with a 1-0 success over Beveren, reduced to 10 men after 40 minutes when Sekou Quattara was sent off. Arnold Bruggink netted in the first half.

Alemannia Aachen, fourth in the German second division, grabbed the remaining qualifying place in Group H at the expense of Zenit St. Petersburg who were not playing.

Aachen needed a win in Greece against pointless AEK Athens to overhaul the Russians and got it with goals from Dutch striker Erik Meijer and substitute Daniel Gomez.

Lille went through as Group H winners after defeating Spanish side Sevilla 1-0 with a late goal from Matt Moussilou. Middlesbrough kept their European bandwagon rolling by sealing top spot in Group E. The Premier League side, in their debut season in Europe, coasted to a 3-0 victory over Partizan Belgrade at the Riverside.

Last season’s semifinalists Villarreal took the runners-up spot, ending their program by demolishing Greek side Egaleo 4-0.