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Germany and Ghana played out an exciting 2-2 draw in Fortaleza this evening, in a match that saw legendary striker Miroslav Klose equal the all-time World Cup goalscoring record.

Mario Götze opened the scoring shortly after the break before Andre Ayew headed an equaliser three minutes later. Asamoah Gyan raised the African side’s hopes of a scalp but 20 minutes from time, Klose scored a close-range equaliser.

Ghana created the first chance out of nowhere after six minutes as Sulley Muntari found Christian Atsu in acres of space; he crossed for Gyan but the former Sunderland striker side-footed well over the bar with the imposing figure of Per Mertesacker closing in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Atsu and Muntari both had shots from outside the box beaten away by Manuel Neuer with Kevin-Prince Boateng – facing his half-brother Jerome, representing Germany – shooting wide of the mark.

Germany failed to create any clear-cut chances in the first half; Thomas Müller’s cross four minutes before half-time might have gone in, had he been on the end of it.

Both teams were in inspired form in the second half and the Germans’ took the lead in a somewhat bizarre fashion after 51 minutes as Götze headed Müller’s perfectly weighted cross onto his knee and past Fatau Dauda.

The lead was only to last 3 minutes however, as Harrison Afful made a deep run from right-back and crossed for Ayew, whose flicked header beat a helpless Neuer.

Just nine minutes later the game was turned on its head as Phillip Lahm was dispossessed by Muntari who passed to Gyan in space; the latter firing in and prompting a well-rehearsed dancing goal celebration.

Jordan Ayew had a chance to put the game beyond doubt as he overpowered Shkodran Mustafi on the left-wing, but went for glory when squaring the ball for Gyan might have been a better option.

Klose and Bastian Schweinsteiger were introduced with 20 minutes remaining and both players immediately lifted Germany from their lull.

Schweinsteiger won a corner, which Mesut Özil took, it was flicked on by Benedikt Howedes and slid in at the back post by Klose, scoring his record-equalling 15^th goal.

Germany piled on the pressure in search of a winner with Müller and Özil being thwarted by excellent defending, as Klose wasted numerous opportunities to break the record.

Ghana held on for the draw and will now need to beat Portugal on Thursday in Brasilia to stand any chance of reaching the next stage of the tournament.