Skipper Asamoah Gyan celebrates his goal with his mates.
Germany and Ghana have shared the spoils in their Group G World Cup clash by playing out a 2-2 draw in Fortaleza.
In an exciting contest at the Estadio Castelao, Germany scored first before the Ghanaians hit back to take the lead prior to Miroslav Klose’s record-equalling leveller with just under 20 minutes.
After a fairly tame first half, the match sprang to life early in the second when Thomas Muller played a pinpoint ball into the area which allowed Mario Gotze to open the scoring from close range with an attempted header which deflected in off his knee past Ghana keeper Fatawu Dauda.
Just three minutes later, however, and Ghana were back on level terms when Andre Ayew rose above German substitute Shkodran Mustafi to meet Harrison Afful’s lovely cross from the right to head home powerfully, giving Manuel Neuer no chance. It was the Marseille attacker’s second goal of the tournament.
Ghana then hit the front less than ten minutes later when Sullery Muntari won the ball in a dangerous area before playing it out wide to Captain Asamoah Gyan who advanced into the area to fire low beyond Neuer with a fine finish.
The stage was set for Germany to bring on veteran striker Klose and it took just two minutes for him to make his presence felt by levelling with a volley from close range after Benedikt Howedes’ cross from the left evaded a number of bodies in the box.
The strike was the 36-year olds 15th World Cup goal which equals Brazilian great Ronaldo’s all-time record.
It set up a tense finish as both sides chased the win and there were chances created at both ends in the dying stages.
Muller had a great opportunity to win it late when played through on goal but he scuffed his effort while under immense pressure from a desperate Kwadwo Asamoah.
Gyan was then only inches wide when firing across goal before Klose struck wide moments later as both sides searched for an equaliser which in the end did not eventuate.
The draw sees Joachim Low’s Die Mannschaft remain top of the Group G table with four points from two outings while Akwasi Appiah’s Black Stars recorded their first point following their 2-1 defeat to the USA five days ago.
Germany will look to see out the group when they take on the US – who meet Portuin Recife on June 26 while Ghana will need to beat the Portuguese in Brasilia on the same day if they are any hope of progressing to the knockout stages.
Source: Tribal Sports
