Germany 2 Ghana 2 Match Report

Miroslav Klose wrote himself into the record books as he put Germany’s World Cup back on track after Ghana had threatened to spectacularly derail it.

Sent on as a 69th minute substitute after his team had gone 2-1 down to a spectacular Asomoah Gyan goal, the 35-year-old equalled the Brazilian Ronaldo’s haul of 15 World Cup finals goals.

Klose scored five in 2002, another five in 2006, four in 2010 and now one in 2014. And didn’t his team need his intervention to keep pace with the superbly impressive Ghanaians.

The Africans are likely to go out after picking up just the single point but the tournament will be poorer if that happens.

Despite their scare, the Germans, though, are looking very capable of disproving the theory that a European country can never win a World Cup in South America. After a frankly dismal first half, the second 45 was truly spectacular fare in the heat and humidity of Fortaleza.

Joachim Low’s men had the bulk of the play in that first period but no end product. Ghana actually made Manuel Neuer work considerably harder than Fatau Dauda was by Thomas Muller and company.

They posted an early warning through the dangerous Christian Atsu, who had Neuer sprawling to turn away his shot from just outside the box.

The steady stream of German pressure included Toni Kroos’ blocked shot, Sami Khedira’s effort straight at keeper Dauda and Muller only just failing to meet Mesut Ozil’s cross.

But when Sulley Muntari tested Neuer again with a blistering 30-yard drive in the 33rd minute you began to wonder if this might not be as straightforward as it had appeared for Germany.

That all appeared to change in the 51st minute when Mario Gotze got on the end of Muller’s excellent pass and nodded past Dauda, albeit off his own knee.

Once in front, the Germans normally stay in front.

However, they were pegged back within just three minutes when Andre Ayew got up above Per Mertesacker and headed Harrison Affel’s cross into the corner.

Nine minutes later, an error by skipper Philip Lahm let in Muntari, he slipped in Gyan and he blasted a venomous drive past Neuer.

Jordan Ayew then wasted an absolutely glorious chance to set up Gyan for a third, choosing to try to beat Neuer at his near post instead of squaring.

Joachim Low reacted by bringing on Klose and Bastian Schweinsteiger and with two minutes Klose brought the Germans level touching the ball in at the far post after Benedikt Howedes flicked on a corner.

Asamoah’s last ditch tackle deprived Muller of a probable winner, then Klose pulled his shot uncharacteristically wide as the Germans threatened to deprive Ghana of a richly deserved point.