FIFA World Cup
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World Cup: Germany 2-2 Ghana

By Ben SmithBBC Sport in Fortaleza
World Cup 2014: Germany 2-2 Ghana highlights

Story of the match:

  • Klose becomes all-time joint-record scorer in World Cup
  • Germany move to four points in Group G
  • Ghana come from behind to take lead
  • Klose equalises with first touch

Miroslav Klose became the joint-record scorer in World Cup history as he rescued Germany a point from a breathless and dramatic game with Ghana at Estadio Castelao.

The 36-year-old Lazio striker scored with his first touch after coming on as a second-half substitute as the Germans came from behind to snatch a draw.

The goal, scored from a yard out, means Klose is now level with former Brazil striker Ronaldo on 15 goals.

Germany were, however, fortunate to escape with a point.

The European side took a fortuitous lead through Mario Gotze's unorthodox header, but Ghana came roaring back to score twice in nine minutes through Andre Ayew and Asamoah Gyan, to the huge delight of the vast majority of the crowd.

Joachim Low, the Germany coach, turned to the experience of Klose and the veteran did not disappoint as he prodded in to keep his side top of Group G.

Germany's Miroslav Klose scores

The result means Germany, who move on to four points, have still only won their second game of a World Cup once since 1994. At Euro 2008, and at the 2010 World Cup, they followed up opening wins with defeats.

Ghana keep alive their chances of qualification for the last 16 but will have to beat Portugal in their final game to have a chance.

With temperatures in excess of 30C at the start, the tempo was understandably slow for much of the first half.

A series of pinball passing movements between Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze threatened to create an opening for Germany.

But in the stifling heat of Fortaleza, Ghana restricted their most celebrated opponents to half chances and blocked shots in an underwhelming opening 45 minutes.

Ghana had won over the neutrals by the interval by creating arguably the best chances but, within six minutes of the re-start, Germany were in front.

Muller found a yard of space, looked up and picked out Gotze's run. The Bayern Munich forward did not make clean contact, heading the ball on to his knee, but the ball still deflected beyond Ghana goalkeeper Fatau Dauda.

Key facts
Miroslav Klose is only the third player in World Cup history to score in four different editions of the competition (after Pele and Uwe Seeler).
Asamoah Gyan equalled Roger Milla's record of five goals, they are the two highest scoring Africans at World Cups.
Per Mertesacker became the 13th player to appear 100 times for Germany.

Ghana rose to find hope and purpose. Three minutes later they levelled to send Estadio Castelao into raptures, Andre Ayew leaping to head home Harrison Afful's wonderful right-wing cross.

More drama was to come nine minutes later, as Ghana went ahead with a goal that stemmed from a rare mistake by Philipp Lahm.

Muntari pounced on the loose ball and slipped an inch-perfect ball through for Gyan, who fired firmly beyond goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Germany turned to the experience of Klose and Bastian Schweinsteiger to stem the flow, with Ghana sensing an upset.

It was a move that paid off almost immediately as Klose scored with his first touch to equal the World Cup scoring record and bring Germany level.

Benedikt Howedes headed a corner towards the net and, just as it was about to cross the line, Klose prodded in to breathe life into Germany's hopes.

Ghana began to tire as Germany pushed on. Toni Kroos found Muller but a brave block by Ayew denied him. Jonathan Mensah threw his body on the line soon after as Germany poured forward but Ghana went close themselves through Christian Atsu and Gyan.

Neither team deserved to lose but both might have had more than a point.

Germany's Mario Gotze
Mario Gotze has scored three goals in his last three appearances for Germany and four in five in 2014
Ghana's Andre Ayew
Ghana's Andre Ayew turns away in celebration after equalising
Ghana's Asamoah Gyan (left) scores against Germany
Asamoah Gyan has scored in each of his last three World Cups for Ghana
Ghana fans
Ghana fans were out in force at Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza
Germany's Miroslav Klose scores for Germany
Miroslav Klose equalised with his first touch of the ball, 112 seconds after coming on as a sub

Line-ups

Germany

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Neuer
  • 17Mertesacker
  • 4Höwedes
  • 5Hummels
  • 20BoatengSubstituted forMustafiat 45'minutes
  • 16Lahm
  • 6KhediraSubstituted forSchweinsteigerat 70'minutes
  • 18Kroos
  • 19GötzeSubstituted forKloseat 69'minutes
  • 8Özil
  • 13Müller

Substitutes

  • 2Großkreutz
  • 3Ginter
  • 7Schweinsteiger
  • 9Schürrle
  • 10Podolski
  • 11Klose
  • 12Zieler
  • 14Draxler
  • 15Durm
  • 21Mustafi
  • 22Weidenfeller
  • 23Kramer

Ghana

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 16Dauda
  • 21Boye
  • 23Afful
  • 19Mensah
  • 20Asamoah
  • 7AtsuSubstituted forWakasoat 71'minutes
  • 17RabiuSubstituted forBaduat 78'minutes
  • 9BoatengSubstituted forJ Ayewat 52'minutes
  • 11MuntariBooked at 90mins
  • 10A Ayew
  • 3Gyan

Substitutes

  • 1Adams
  • 2Inkoom
  • 4Opare
  • 5Essien
  • 6Acquah
  • 8Badu
  • 12Larsen Kwarasey
  • 13J Ayew
  • 14Adomah
  • 15Sumaila
  • 18Waris
  • 22Wakaso
Referee:
Sandro Meira Ricci
Attendance:
59,621

Match Stats

Home TeamGermanyAway TeamGhana
Possession
Home62%
Away38%
Shots
Home12
Away18
Shots on Target
Home4
Away6
Corners
Home7
Away3
Fouls
Home11
Away17

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Germany 2, Ghana 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Germany 2, Ghana 2.

  3. Booking

    Sulley Ali Muntari (Ghana) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  4. Post update

    Toni Kroos (Germany) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Sulley Ali Muntari (Ghana).

  6. Post update

    Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Sulley Ali Muntari (Ghana).

  8. Post update

    Offside, Ghana. Emmanuel Badu tries a through ball, but Mubarak Wakaso is caught offside.

  9. Post update

    Corner, Germany. Conceded by Jonathan Mensah.

  10. Post update

    Attempt missed. Miroslav Klose (Germany) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Philipp Lahm.

  11. Post update

    Attempt missed. Asamoah Gyan (Ghana) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Harrison Afful.

  12. Post update

    Attempt saved. Jordan Ayew (Ghana) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Miroslav Klose (Germany).

  14. Post update

    Kwadwo Asamoah (Ghana) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  15. Post update

    Corner, Germany. Conceded by Jonathan Mensah.

  16. Post update

    Toni Kroos (Germany) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  17. Post update

    Foul by Mubarak Wakaso (Ghana).

  18. Post update

    Foul by Shkodran Mustafi (Germany).

  19. Post update

    André Ayew (Ghana) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Post update

    Corner, Germany. Conceded by Kwadwo Asamoah.

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Brazil21103124
2Mexico21101014
3Croatia21015323
4Cameroon200205-50

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Netherlands22008356
2Chile22005146
3Australia200236-30
4Spain200217-60

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Colombia22005146
2Ivory Coast21013303
3Japan201112-11
4Greece201103-31

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Costa Rica22004136
2Italy21012203
3Uruguay210134-13
4England200224-20

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1France22008266
2Ecuador21013303
3Switzerland210146-23
4Honduras200215-40

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Argentina22003126
2Nigeria10100001
3Iran201101-11
4Bos-Herze100112-10

G

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Germany21106244
2USA11002113
3Ghana201134-11
4Portugal100104-40

H

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Belgium11002113
2Football Union of Russia10101101
3South Korea10101101
4Algeria100112-10
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