SALVADOR, Brazil -- Thomas Muller scored a hat trick as Germany turned on its style and power to rout 10-man Portugal 4-0 in their World Cup Group G opener on Monday. Muller, who scored five goals in the 2010 World Cup, was ruthless against a weak Portugal team that was clearly outplayed despite the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo. "To score three goals in the World Cup opener against such an opponent is great," Muller said. With Chancellor Angela Merkel supporting in the stands, the German team celebrated its 100th World Cup match with a rousing victory that was virtually assured by halftime. "After 20 minutes, we looked up at the clock and thought it was going to be a long day," Muller said. "But we got into the match very well and when you lead by 2-0 in this heat and then even get the third, it was all over." Germany always aims to have an impressive start and it certainly did this time. Four years ago, it started with a 4-0 win over Australia and reached the semifinals. What must be worrying for Germanys opponents is the apparent ease with which Joachim Loews lineup disposed of the fourth-ranked team in the world. Germany next faces Ghana on June 21 and the United States on June 26. Germany coach Joachim Loew said his team implemented his game plan very well, winning the ball in midfield and then quickly attacking. Muller scored either side of Mats Hummels headed goal as Germany took a 3-0 lead at the break, and added his third goal in the 81st. Ronaldo started at Arena Fonte Nova after overcoming a knee injury. He faded after threatening early in the match, including a shot from a break that Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer could only block, but there was nobody from Portugal to pounce on the rebound. "We lost the game already in the first half," Portugal coach Paulo Bento said. "We couldnt come back in the second. Germany played very well, we couldnt do anything." Portugal was already 2-0 down before Pepe was red carded in the 37th minute for apparently head-butting Muller when the German player was sitting on the ground. Pepe had stuck his hand into Muellers face and the German went down. "I got hit but after that I am not really sure what happened," Muller said. It was Mueller who opened the scoring in the 12th minute after Mario Goetze had been pulled down by Joao Pereira in the box, coolly slotting the penalty kick into the right corner of Rui Patricios goal. "Ive been in some big matches before, so its not like I was afraid," Muller said. Hummels had risen above Pepe to double Germanys lead with a well-timed header from a corner in the 32nd, and Muller extended the buffer just before the break when he stripped the ball from Bruno Alves and drilled in a low shot. The Bayern Munich forward completed the rout late in the second half, poking in from close range after Patricio had fumbled a low cross from substitute Andre Schuerrle. He said the margin should have been bigger. "We should have used some of our chances better," Muller said, adding that it was hard to play in midday heat and humidity. Portugals chances were limited. Ronaldo fired a powerful free kick late in the match but Neuer punched it away. Portugal also lost big striker Hugo Almeida to an injury. He was replaced by Eder in the 28th. Fabio Coentrao injured a groin muscle and was helped off the field in 65th, to be replaced by Andre Almeida. Hummels then limped off the field with a right-knee injury, giving substitute defender Shkodran Mustafi his second cap. Germany could have scored more goals after the break but Mario Goetze and Mesut Ozil wasted good chances. In the second Group D match later Monday, the United States was playing Ghana at Natal. Custom Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys .Y. -- Syracuses streak lives on -- barely. Josh Bell Jersey . Although head coach Randy Carlyle jokingly wondered how much actual training Bolland got done while in London. "I dont know how much training goes on when you go back to the junior team that you played for so I wouldnt read too much into that," laughed Carlyle after the Maple Leafs were put through an up-tempo practice that concluded with a 10-minute bag skate on Thursday. http://www.pittsburghpiratesprostore.us/...pirates-jersey/. Just ask Arsenal fans. However, Arsene Wenger has repeatedly told anyone willing to listen that finishing in that spot is more important than winning a cup competition. Adam Frazier Pirates Jersey . Hamels threw seven sharp innings to earn his 100th career victory, Domonic Brown had a career-best five RBIs and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Cincinnati Reds 12-1 on Saturday night to end a four-game losing streak. Corey Dickerson Jersey . Plata blasted a rising shot to the upper left corner for his team-leading seventh goal of the season. He got the kick after referee Allen Chapman ruled Chris Tierney fouled John Stertzer in the penalty area.ATLANTA -- Jeff Teague had a career-high 33 points and 10 assists, Al Horford added 20 points and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 113-103 on Friday night. DeMarre Carroll finished with a career-high 21 points for Atlanta, which has won three of four. Evan Turner scored 27 points, Tony Wroten had 22 points, and Spencer Hawes finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Sixers, who have lost three of four. Hawks guard Lou Williams, returning to the court for the first time since undergoing reconstructive right knee surgery 10 months ago, finished with seven points, three rebounds and two assists in 15 minutes. Williams, in his second season with Atlanta, received a rousing cheer when he entered the game midway through the first quarter. Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game that Williams, who spent his first seven seasons with the Sixers, will not play on consecutive nights. The Hawks visit the New York Knicks on Saturday. Budenholzer decided to bring forward Paul Millsap, Atlantas second-leading scorer this season, off the bench, and he finished with eight points. Gustavo Ayon started in his season debut, finishing with six points. Teague wove through the lane to feed Millsap for a dunk that made it 103-94 with 3:01 left. The Sixers were without second-leading scorer Michael Carter-Williams because of a bruised arch in his left foot. Carter-Williams missed his second straight game. The rookie was injured Monday in a home loss to San Antonio and is travelling with the team, but coach Brett Brown saaid he doubts the former Syracuse standout will play Saturday at New Orleans or Monday at Dallas.dddddddddddd Wroten, a second-year veteran starting in Carter-Williams spot, has done well in the guards absence. He had 18 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in his first career start, a home win over Houston on Wednesday. Hawks guard Kyle Korver hit a 3 in his 82nd consecutive game. Its the NBAs second career-leading streak and eight shy of breaking Dana Barros 17-year-old record. Korver finished with 13 points. Thaddeus Young had 17 points for Philadelphia. The Hawks biggest lead before halftime was 11 on Williams 3 in the final seconds of the first quarter, but Philadelphia had a two-point lead at intermission after Darius Morris hit a 3 with 2.5 seconds left and Carroll hit a 3 at the buzzer. Williams 8-foot runner lifted Atlanta to an 82-71 lead with 31.1 seconds left in the third. Philadelphia came within four on Hollis Thompsons dunk early in the fourth, but Brown called timeout with 7:39 remaining after Ayon caught Teagues alley-oop for a layup that made it 90-79. NOTES: Teagues previous career high was 28 points last Jan. 16 at Brooklyn. ... Carroll set a career high with four 3s. ... Barros set the NBA mark by hitting a 3 in 89 straight games from Dec. 23, 1994-Jan. 12, 1996, during stints with Philadelphia and Boston. ... Budenholzer and Brown, both first-year head coaches, know each other well. Budenholzer spent the previous 17 years and Brown the last 11 on San Antonios staff. ... There were 10 lead changes and nine ties. ' ' '