Leverkusen, Germany  - Goals in each half from Mario Gomez and Mesut Ozil gave Germany a 2-0 victory over World Cup hosts South Africa in a friendly international in Leverkusen on Saturday.

Gomez struck from close range in the 36th minute for a well-worked goal in which Ozil combined with Michael Ballack before the Germany captain crossed low for the Stuttgart striker to finish.

Werder Bremen midfielder Ozil, playing his first game from the start, crowned a bright performance by adding a second in the 77th minute from a pass by substitute Miroslav Klose.

It was good all-round performance by the German side who take on Azerbaijan in a World Cup qualifier in Hanover on Wednesday before decisive qualifiers next month against Russia and Finland.

"I saw a lot of good play and we combined far better than we had done recently," coach Joachim Loew said.

"Mesut showed he can bring a lot of creativity into the game. He has an eye for a player in a good position and began a lot of dangerous moves.

"He is a player for the future but still has things to learn, for example defensively."

Loew also praised goalkeeper Rene Adler, who made a fine first-half save, and thwarted the South Africans twice late one.

Loew chose a five-man midfield with Gomez as a lone striker and saw his side begin brightly with Ozil and Werder Bremen team-mate Marko Marin - also starting for the first time - often involved in Germany's attacking play.

It was no surprise when the home side took the lead through Gomez, but only a minute later Adler prevented an equalizer when he saved low to parry what would have been a header into his own net from Arne Friedrich from a Steven Pienaar free-kick.

Loew rang the changes at half-time, with Klose, Lukas Podolski and Heiko Westermann entering the game, while VfB Stuttgart midfielder Sami Khedira came on later to earn a first cap.

Klose - on for Gomez - was involved in the second goal neatly finished by Ozil, and there were further chances, with a Ballack header coming off the inside of the post.

"We saw a good game. We played better than of late and scored two well-worked goals," Gomez said.

"Germany hasn't had the sort of player like Mesut for a long time. We can be glad to have such a player." (dpa)