After dismantling Portugal 4-0 the Germans came into this contest against a Ghana team looking to avenge their opening match loss to the USA. The teams last faced off in 2010 when Germany knocked the “Black Stars” out of the tournament with a 1-0 win thanks to Mesut Oezil. There were no real surprises in either lineup outside of Mats Hummels being cleared to play after suffering an injury against the Portuguese. Kevin-Prince Boateng got the start in the midfield this time for the Ghanaians after being left off the starting XI against the US.
The Ghanaians almost got off to a dream start on 7’ when Asamoah Gyan found space in the box only to shoot the cross from the right flank miles over Manuel Neuer’s bar. From the get go it seemed obvious that Ghana was going to let Germany hold possession in their own half, only pressuring when the Germans crossed the midfield line.
Germany had their first real chance on 10’ when Thomas Mueller laid the ball off for a waiting Toni Kroos at the top of the eighteen only to have his shot blocked by Jonathan Mensah. Ghana continued to look dangerous though as Manuel Neuer was tested on 13’ minutes by a stinging shot from 22-yards out off the boot of Christian Atsu.
Through twenty minutes both teams looked dangerous. Germany had a few nice exchanges between themselves that looked like they could have unlocked the Ghanaian defense, while Ghana were by no means bowing down to the Germans; holding possession well when they had the ball and looking dangerous on the wings.
The Germans had a huge chance on 29’ as Mario Goetze beat Asamoah on the right flank. Lucky enough for the “Black Stars” he opted to pass across the box only to see the ball knocked out for a corner. Ghana, it has to be said, were just as good as the Germans through thirty minutes. Holding the ball well in possession and pushing forward dangerously on the counter. Sully Muntari could have had one of the goals of the tournament on 32’ as he blasted a shot from about 35-yards out, only to have Manuel Neuer punch it away.
It was definitely a first half in which both sides had periods of momentum. It has to be said that Ghana could very well have been the better side during the first forty-five minutes. Germany held the majority of possession but Ghana’s speed looked to cause the German backline some distress. Both teams ended the half with two shots on goal, even though Ghana mustered up seven total compared to Germany’s five.
Coming out of the break, the Germans made one change as Shkodran Mustafi came on in favor of Jerome Boateng, while Ghana came out with the same lineup that they had at the start of the game. Once again it has to be said that Ghana started the second half with a much higher intensity than the Germans.
But the deadlock was broken five minutes after the interval as Mario Goetze headed home a perfectly crossed ball from Thomas Mueller. It is the Bayern Munich starlet’s tenth international goal, one that could not have come at a better time as the Germans looked very sloppy to begin the half.
But it lasted only three minutes as Ghana’s Andre Ayew scored a beautiful header from about 10-yards out as he climbed higher than Shkodran Mustafi who had just came on. You can’t say it wasn’t deserved as Ghana continued to push men forward following the German goal.
Ghana was sent into complete ecstasy as Asamoah Gyan put the “Black Stars” ahead 2-1 on 63’. It was an error by Mats Hummels in the back as Gyan was put one-on-one with Manuel Neuer who had no chance of saving it. Jordan Ayew had a glorious chance to make it 3-1 on 67’ only to put the ball directly into the hands of Manuel Neuer.
Jogi Loew opted to bring in Miroslav Klose and Bastian Schweinsteiger in the 69’ for Sami Khedira and Mario Goetze. And it was Miroslav Klose after being on the pitch for one minute who drew level with Ronaldo for most goals scored at a World Cup (15). With that goal Klose joined Pele and Uwe Seeler to be the only person to score at four different World Cups.
Thomas Mueller had a huge chance on 84’ to give the Germans the lead as Toni Kroos played him through only to have his shot stopped by a last ditch tackle from Kwadwo Asamoah. The Germans continued to knock on the door as Mesut Oezil beautifully crossed the ball only to have it cleared on the six-yard line by a Ghanaian defender.
Ghana continued to look dangerous up until the final whistle though as Germany gave up the ball more than a few times in the final ten minutes. Germany had one final chance with the last kick of the game as they were awarded a free kick about 25-yards out on the left side. But nothing was to come of it as the game ends 2-2 after ninety minutes.
It was a fair result for both sides as the argument could be made that each team had their chances at winning this game. So, Ghana will now sit with one point needing a win against Portugal, while Germany will take on the United States looking for at least a draw.
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