FIFA World Cup 2014: Germany’s Klose encounter

Fortaleza: Miroslav Klose rescued a point for Germany, and equalled the World Cup scoring record in the process. Germany was held to an entertaining 2-2 draw by Ghana on Saturday and needed Klose’s second-half equaliser to avoid another second-game letdown that has plagued the team in recent tournaments.

Just like in 2010, Germany won their opening game of the World Cup 4-0 but struggled in their second game. Four years ago, it was beaten 1-0 by Serbia, and the Germans were on the verge of losing again on Saturday. The draw was good news for the United States, however, as the Americans would advance from the group if they beats Portugal on Sunday.

Klose scored the equaliser in the 71st minute, less than two minutes after coming on as a substitute, when a corner by Toni Kroos was flicked to the far post by Benedikt Hoewedes and the striker slid in to knock the ball into the roof of the net.

Mario Goetze had put Germany ahead in the 51st, but Ghana equalised three minutes later through Andre Ayew. Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan then put the Africans ahead in the 63rd, only to see Klose cancel out his goal.

With coach Joachim Loew preferring to play with a “false nine” system without a striker, Klose sat out Germany’s opening 4-0 rout of Portugal. But with Ghana threatening to put a damper on Germany’s hope of winning the group, Loew turned to his veteran, who delivered again.

The African side kept putting pressure on the favored Germans. Gyan beat an offside trap by Mats Hummels and Mertesacker in the 63rd, ran into space and fired the ball past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer into the far corner to raise Ghana’s hopes of an upset. Both teams had late chances to grab the winner but Neuer and his Ghana counterpart Fatawu Dauda produced good saves.