WORLD CUP: Klose equals Ronaldo world cup goals
15 World Cup goals as Germany drew 2-2 with
Ghana in a thrilling Group G clash in
Fortaleza.
First-half chances were scarce for both sides
but Germany appeared to have found their
flow just minutes into the second as Mario
Gotze stooped to bundle home Thomas
Muller's inviting cross, heading it against his
own knee and beyond Fatau Dauda to break
the deadlock.
However, their lead lasted little more than two
minutes as Ghana soon hit back when
Harrison Afful's pin-point cross from the right
was met by the leaping Andre Ayew who
powered it beyond Manuel Neuer.
Kwesi Appiah's men were growing in
confidence and they took the lead nine
minutes later as Sulley Muntari's through ball
took Mats Hummels out of the game and
Asamoah Gyan raced free to fire past Neuer.
Joachim Low looked to change the flow of the
clash as he introduced Bastian Schweinsteiger
and Klose with around 20 minutes remaining,
and it was the latter who made an instant
impact as he turned in Benedikt Howedes'
flick-on from close range following a Toni
Kroos corner.
Conditions were tough for both sides ahead of
the game, with humidity levels rising as high
as 61 per cent amid temperatures of 29
degrees in Fortaleza.
Germany were the strong favourites ahead of
kick-off, but it was Ghana who threatened first
as Gyan blazed over the bar from inside the
area before Christian Atsu tested Neuer from
range.
Low’s side worked themselves into a number
of promising positions but were unable to
capitalise as the stern Ghana defence stood
firm.
Mesut Ozil and Muller were finding themselves
in promising positions out wide as their
crosses lacked a killer touch, while Sami
Khedira, Gotze and Kroos were all reduced to
unleashing from distance.
Jonathan Mensah poked an effort inches wide
in a lively end to the first half after some
frantic German defending left Low's side
relatively pleased to go into the break all
square.
Much like the start of the first half,
proceedings began somewhat slowly after the
restart, but an inventive cross from Muller
opened up the Ghana defence for the youngest
member of Germany's starting line-up, Gotze,
to put them ahead.
With their 4-0 victory over Portugal still fresh
in the minds, questions may have been asked
as to how many Ghana might ship, but
Appiah's side had different ideas.
Knowing their World Cup future depended on
it, they chose to attack a Germany defence
which remains their Achilles heel, succeeding
in levelling the match after just three minutes.
A sweeping cross from the right was met by
the committed Ayew, who beat German
substitute Shkodran Mustafi in the air and
guided the ball beyond the reach of Neuer.
Ghana continued to push men forwards,
catching Germany somewhat by surprise, and
taking a deserved lead in the 63rd minute.
AC Milan midfielder Muntari disected the
Germany defence with a killer pass into the
path of Gyan, who raced through and provided
a composed finish into the far corner of
Neuer's goal.
Germany were forced to chase the game, and
who better than Klose to come on and level
matters, like he did in the 71st minute when he
stretched to ensure Howedes' goalbound
header found the back of the net.
It was the 15th World Cup goal for Klose,
taking him level with Brazil's Ronaldo in the
all-time World Cup scoring charts and onto a
record-breaking 70 for his country.
It was also enough to earn Germany a point
with some near misses at both ends late on.
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