Germany cruise to Confederations Cup final with 4-1 victory over Mexico

Leon Goretzka grabbed a brace as Germany booked a spot in the 2017 Confederations Cup final with a convincing 4-1 victory over Mexico in Sochi.

The 22-year-old Schalke 04 star struck two well-taken goals inside the first eight minutes before Timo Werner put them out of sight prior to the hour.

El Tri substitute Marco Fabian reduced the arrears with a quite stunning strike from distance in the last minute, but Joachim Low's side had the final word when Amin Younes rolled in the fourth.

The world champions were always in control after their early blitz and comfortably stretched their unbeaten run to 14 matches. They will now meet Chile in Sunday's final in St Petersburg.

Germany's strength in depth. Another tournament, another final. Die Mannschaft may have left the likes of Mario Gotze, Thomas Muller and Mesut Ozil at home, but they don't seem to need them with Julian Draxler, Werner and Goretzka in tandem. The Germans clearly have a wealth of emerging stars and they all seem to have that innate ability to produce the goods in a tournament scenario; a fact exemplified by their appearance in two major finals this weekend (U21 Euros & Confederations Cup).

Leon Goretzka (Germany). Showed just why he was identified as one to watch ahead of the tournament. He's now notched three goals in three games and it was his composure in the final third that provided the early platform for a thumping victory.

GERMANY: ter Stegen 8, Hector 8, Ginter 6, Rüdiger 6, Henrichs 7, Rudy 7, Kimmich 7, Draxler 8, Goretzka 8, Werner 8, Stindl 7. Subs: Can 6, Brandt 5, Younes n/a.

MEXICO: Ochoa 7, Araujo 6, Moreno 6, Alanis 6, Layun 7, Herrera 7, J Dos Santos 6, G. Dos Santos 6, Aquino 6, Hernandez 6, Jimenez 6. Subs: Lozano 6, Fabian 6, Marquez 5.

6'- GOAL! Germany 1-0 Mexico. Leon Goretzka guides a first-time shot into the far corner from 25 yards and Germany are off to a flyer!

8'- GOAL! Germany 2-0 Mexico. It's two in two minutes! Goretzka grabs his second of the contest as he races onto Werner's through ball and coolly fires into the far corner.

34' - MEXICO CHANCE. A super double save from ter Stegen keeps Germany's two-goal lead intact. Gio Dos Santos powers into the area on the right, but sees his low shot blocked by the keeper. The follow-up falls for Jon Dos Santos who can't beat the Barca keeper with his diving header.

35' - MEXICO CHANCE. Gio Dos Santos slips a lovely pass through for Hernandez who lifts it over the advancing ter Stegen, but also just over the bar. Mexico can't afford to keep wasting chances like these.

53' - GERMANY CHANCE. Werner sprints clear once more. He gets a shove off Moreno as he looks to shoot, is forced to go wider and fires his shot across the face of goal. Should that have been a penalty?

59'- GOAL! Germany 3-0 Mexico. It's three and it's all over. Werner taps into an empty net after Draxler spun off his man and played in Hector to put it on a plate with a super cutback.

75' - OFF THE BAR! Lozano crosses for Jimenez who can only guide his header against the woodwork.

89'- GOAL! Germany 3-1 Mexico. El Tri have a consolation. Fabian takes the short free kick in his stride and swerves an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 35 yards.

90+1'- GOAL! Germany 4-1 Mexico. Germany put it beyond any doubt by bursting forward. Can feeds Younes on the left and he rolls it into the far corner.

Goretzka is the first ever player to score a brace for Die Mannschaft within the opening eight minutes of a match.

Mexico have beaten Germany just once in 11 meetings.

Timo Werner and Leon Goretzka are now the top scorers at the tournament with three apiece.