Miroslav Klose comes on to rescue Germany from defeat by Ghana

Mario Götze, left, celebrates with Sami Khedira after scoring Germany's opening goal against Ghana. Photograph: Jed Leicester/Action Images||

The validity of Kevin-Prince Boateng’s claim that Germany lack leaders when the pressure is on will be revealed in time. In the searing heat of Fortaleza they lacked the incisiveness and steel that shaped their destruction of Portugal, but not the time-honoured precision of Miroslav Klose. The 36-year-old climbed off the bench to join Ronaldo as the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer as Joachim Löw’s team survived an almighty scare by Ghana and the World Cup was treated to yet another enthralling classic.
Africa has a tale of World Cup redemption in Brazil at last, though Ghana know they could have had much more. They led impressively, deservedly with 19 minutes remaining and Germany running short of options. Löw opted for a trusted source, 14-goal Klose. The record-equalling No15 arrived within moments of his introduction to salvage a point for a Germany side that, for all Löw’s pre-match warnings, could not avoid the second-game syndrome that has afflicted so many teams in Brazil. Now they must gain a positive result against their former manager Jürgen Klinsmann and the USA in Recife on Thursday to advance. Germany usually do but they were unable to silence Kevin-Prince Boateng’s accusation as they had intended.
With 12,000 Germany supporters present and the locals rooting for Ghana there was a raucous atmosphere inside Estádio Castelão and an intensity to match on the pitch. Particularly from the Black Stars.
Ghana’s Boateng, when not seeking to rile the country he represented at every youth level from 15 to 21, had predicted a gladiatorial combat worthy of ancient Rome. There will be people around the pitch who want to see how two teams fight,” said the Schalke player, recalled to the starting lineup after voicing his disapproval at being a substitute for the defeat by the USA. “We will fight to the death against Germany.”
This was a far more accomplished, energetic and determined performance from Ghana than they produced in their opening contest against the USA. Not that Germany were by any means second best as they attempted to overcome Ghana’s defensive strength and temperatures that reached 33 degrees centigrade before kick off.
Mesut Özil was distraught when substituted in the 4-0 trouncing of Portugal but clearly unaffected by the disappointment. Özil’s vision engineered several openings for Germany but the central defender John Boye read their intentions instinctively in the first half. A flowing move down the Ghana left saw Özil cross for Müller who rolled the ball behind him for the unmarked Toni Kroos. Boye threw himself into a vital block and later produced a sublime tackle on Müller as the striker looked certain to capitalise on another well-worked attack down Germany’s right. Jérôme Boateng sent Götze clear with a fine ball down the line, Götze centred into the six-yard box and Müller must have sensed his fourth goal of the World Cup. Boye’s boot arrived first to keep the Bayern Munich striker level with Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie, Karim Benzema and Enner Valencia on three.
Müller’s assist count rose as the contest got the drama it required at the start of the second half. And some. More patient buildup play from Germany ended with the striker sweeping an inch-perfect cross over from the right, a fraction above the unfortunate Boye, towards Götze, who steered the ball beyond Fatau Dauda with a combination of head and knee.
The breakthrough sparked a one-man pitch invasion but he had not been escorted to the security services when Ghana drew level in imperious fashion.
Jérôme Boateng had been replaced by the late call-up Shkodran Mustafi at half-time and Kevin-Prince made way for Jordan Ayew moments later. The removal of the Boateng brothers’ sub-plot merely improved the tale as Harrison Afful delivered a glorious cross from the right and André Ayew rose above Mustafi to steer a stunning header into the bottom corner of Manuel Neuer’s goal.
Relief turned to ecstasy for Ghana nine minutes later when Philipp Lahm of all people gave away possession to Muntari. The midfielder immediately released Gyan behind the creaking Hummels and, with an emphatic finish beyond Germany’s goalkeeper, Ghana had the lead.
They could, and should, have increased the advantage when Jordan Ayew escaped down the left but chose the selfish option instead of squaring to the unmarked Gyan and shot straight at Neuer. André Ayew was inches away from connecting with another inviting cross into the area.
Löw called for his rescue act, Klose, and within two minutes the rescue act had delivered. Benedikt Höwedes flicked on Kroos’s corner at the near post and there was the veteran goalscorer to prod over the line from two yards at the back. It was practically his first touch of the evening but a moment of history that he will never forget and Germany were left thankful for.

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