2014 FIFA World Cup
Group G
Full Time: Germany 2-2 Ghana
Date: 21 June 2014
Venue: Estadio Castelao
An action packed second half saw four goals scored as Germany and Ghana played to a highly entertaining 2-2 draw in their Group G, 2014 FIFA World Cup match at the Estadio Castelao on Saturday.
The result sees Germany up to four points and at the top of the group, followed by USA on three points and Ghana in third on one point. Portugal prop up the group with no points.
Germany saw more of the ball early on, but they were not that threatening in attack as the Ghanaian defence kept them quiet for large portions of the half.
Instead, despite seeing less of the ball, Ghana had the better efforts on goal in the opening 45 minutes.
The first decent effort on goal was a Christian Atsu 24-yard shot in the 13th minute, but his attempt was well-saved by Manuel Neuer, diving to his right to punch the ball away from danger.
Germany had their first shot on goal five minutes later when Sami Khedira let fly with a powerful 22-yard effort, but saw his attempt saved by Fatau Dauda.
Neuer had to be at his best again for Germany in the 33rd minute when Sulley Muntari fired a thunderbolt goalwards from 30-yards out, but the keeper produced an acrobatic stop to deny the Ghanaian.
The Black Stars applied all the pressure in the closing stages of the half and Andrew Ayew came close when he headed a right-wing cross just over the crossbar in the last minute of the stanza.
The half ended 0-0.
It was a lively start to the second 45 which saw Germany take the lead six minutes after the restart when Mario Goetze met a cross from the right-wing, heading the ball onto his own knee and into the back of the net from ten-yards out, 1-0.
Ghana, though, were not to be out done and hit back two minutes later when Andrew Ayew superbly headed home a right-wing cross from 14-yards out, 1-1.
In the 63rd minute Ghana turned the match upside down when Muntari slipped Asamoah Gyan through on goal and the captain made no mistake with a cool finish to give his side the lead, 2-1.
Germany, though, hit back themselves eight minutes later when Miroslav Klose, with his first touch since coming on as a substitute, poked home a corner-kick which was flicked on by Benedikt Howedes, 2-2.
Both sides threw men forward in attack in the final 20 minutes, but neither could find the winner as the spoils were shared.
