Germany edged another step closer to almost certain World Cup qualification with a 3-0 win over a 10-man Faeroe Islands yesterday.

Per Mertesacker put the visitors ahead in the 22nd minute but Germany had to wait until Mesut Ozil's 74th-minute penalty before being sure of the points, despite dominating the game.

Faeroe Islands defender Atli Gregersen was sent off for conceding the spot kick, although TV replays showed Thomas Mueller made the most of a faint touch.

"He touched me. It's a clear penalty," said Mueller, who wrapped up the scoring with a deflected shot in the 84th.

"We knew it wouldn't be easy, playing on the artificial pitch, but we managed it," Mertesacker said. "We can all do better. We showed good periods and dominated possession."

With two games remaining in Group C, Germany has 22 points, five ahead of Sweden which won 1-0 in Kazakhstan thanks to Zlatan Ibrahimovic's first-minute strike.

Ibrahimovic beat Kazakh goalkeeper Andrei Sidelnikov with a crisp low shot inside the far post.

Austria defeated Ireland 1-0 in Vienna to stay three points behind Sweden and all but rule out Irish participation in Brazil next year.