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Soccer-Sasic, Mittag both net three as Germany rout Ivory Coast

By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA, June 7 (Reuters) - Forwards Celia Sasic and Anja Mittag both scored hat tricks as Germany crushed Ivory Coast 10-0 in their opening Women's World Cup Group B soccer match on Sunday, notching the second biggest win in tournament history.

Sasic netted three times in the first half against a hapless Ivory Coast side who had goalkeeper Dominique Thiamale to thank for preventing an even worse defeat. Mittag scored another two before half-time.

Top-ranked Germany, who won all 10 of their qualifying matches with a staggering 62-4 goal difference, came into the tournament as one of the favorites and showed why against a woeful Ivory Coast, who are ranked a lowly 67th.