Germany vs. Ghana: Final score 2-2, stunner in Fortaleza sees Germans held
Ghana and Germany produced a thriller in Fortaleza, with both sides coming from behind and eventually settling for a draw.
Robert Cianflone
Ghana and Germany shared the points after an enthralling encounter in which the Black Stars came close to causing a major upset. Both sides eventually settled for a 2-2 draw.
Either side could have won the game and enjoyed spells of dominance, but Ghana will at least be pleased to get a point that keeps their hopes of making the knockout round alive.
Mario Götze had put Germany ahead, but they seemed to bizarrely implode as Ghana roared into a comeback, with André Ayew and Asamoah Gyan putting the Black Stars in the lead. Germany reacted by bringing on Miroslav Klose, and the veteran striker scored with his first touch of the game to level the scores again.
Most of the action took place in the second half as the first was a fairly uneventful stalemate. Germany had enjoyed the better of the game, and had some half-chances through Thomas Müller and Mesut Özil, but Ghana had threatened themselves with pacy counter-attacking down the wings and a rasping drive from Sulley Muntari.
It was eventually Germany who broke the deadlock, with Müller involved. The Bayern forward’s cross for Götze was inch-perfect, although the finish was highly fortunate, the playmaker heading the ball downwards onto his knee and into the net.
It appeared as though Germany would now exert control over the game, but there was a huge surprise in store. Ghana stepped up several gears after the goal and for a period completely overran their more illlustrious opponents. Ayew leapt brilliantly to beat the two German center backs and met a cross from the right with an excellent header to level the scores.
Germany were stunned by the equalizer and completely lost control for a period where they could have conceded more than they did. Gyan got the better of Per Mertesacker to get on the end of Muntari's through-ball and the striker lashed a magnificent shot past Manuel Neuer in goal to shock and delight the crowd in Fortaleza.
Germany boss Joachim Löw reacted by withdrawing Götze and sending on veteran striker Klose. It was met with much derision from the crowd, even being booed by the Germany fans, but the forward soon silenced his critics by scoring with his first touch of the game. Klose capped off a crazy period of action by scoring from close range after Benedikt Höwedes flicked on a German corner.
The game settled down somewhat after the flurry of goals, although Germany again came close to scoring as Klose’s cross for Müller was just cut out. Ghana were hanging on by the end, but despite a series of corners, Germany were unable to find the decisive goal. The game almost took another incredible twist as Ghana broke from a set piece and suddenly had four attackers to three defenders, but Mubarak Wakaso carelessly strayed offside to cost his side the chance of a late winner. Germany continued to push in the final two minutes, but couldn’t find their goal and will have to settle for a result which leaves Group G wide open.
Germany: Neuer, Höwedes, Hummels, Mertesacker, Boateng (Mustafi 46’), Khedira (Schweinsteiger 70’), Lahm, Kroos, Götze (Klose 69’), Özil, Müller.
Goals: Götze 51’, Klose 71’
Ghana: Dauda, Asamoah, Boye, Mensah, Afful, Rabiu (Badu 79’), Muntari, A. Ayew, Boateng (J. Ayew 52’), Atsu (Wakaso 73’), Gyan.
Goals: Ayew 54’, Gyan 63’
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