GERMANY 1-0 POLAND

14 June 2006

A last-gasp goal from substitute Oliver Neuville gave Germany their second successive Group A victory against Poland in Dortmund on Wednesday, 14 June 2006.

Germany, who had been frustrated for the vast majority of the match through a combination of poor finishing and excellent goalkeeping from Artur Boruc, were grateful when the Borussia Monchengladbach man side-footed home in the first minute of added time.

The result does not guarantee the hosts qualification for the Round of 16, but it leaves them with one foot in the knockout stages.

The match:
2': Amid incredible noise and a fabulous atmosphere in Dortmund, Poland goalkeeper Artur Boruc came under early, but unfair pressure, from Miroslav Klose and referee Luis Medina Cantalejo blew for a free-kick close to the goal-line.

9': Poland striker Maciej Zurawski got a low shot on target, but it lacked power and Jens Lehmann dived on it with ease.

10': Klose broke free in the box and tested Boruc with his left foot, though the Pole dealt with it superbly.

20': The sizeable Polish contingent in the stadium roared with excitement as Ireneusz Jelen appeared to have found space to shoot on the edge of the German penalty area, but last defender Per Mertesacker did just enough to put him off his stride.

21': Philip Lahm’s left-footed cross was met by Klose with a flicked header and the ball passed agonisingly close to Boruc's post, but just wide.

27': Jelen raced down the left flank and cut inside before sending a weak shot into the grateful arms of Lehmann, with disappointed Polish team-mates in good positions in support on the right.

30': Germany skipper Michael Ballack, returning to the side after missing the Opening Match for the hosts, tried a shot at Boruc which deflected wide after skidding all along the turf.

36': Lahm released the Polish-born Lukas Podolski with a chipped pass and he turned past Poland skipper Jacek Bak in a flash but his snapshot was straight at Boruc.

41': Bernd Schneider fed Podolksi inside the penalty area and, with his back to goal, he teed up Bastian Schweinsteiger to shoot, but the Bayern Munich midfielder blazed over the top.

Crowd get restless
57': The home fans began to show their anxiety as the opener just would not come for Germany. They whistled with fury as Boruc took his time with a goal-kick and when the ball eventually made its way to the other end of the field, Jelen struck a firm shot into Lehmann's stomach.

64': Boruc had to be alert after a Torsten Frings free-kick was blocked by the wall and the ball broke to Klose, who blasted it at the Celtic goalkeeper, drawing a smart save.

66': Schweinsteiger's corner reached Mertesacker at the back post but he could not keep his header down and it passed harmlessly over the crossbar.

75': Radaslow Sobolewski brought down Klose near the touchline and he was sent off after being shown his second yellow card, leaving Poland to last the final 15 minutes with only ten men. Schneider's resulting free-kick cross evaded everyone and almost sneaked in.

80': Boruc kept Poland level with two fantastic stops within a minute of each other, first from Lahm and then to deny Germany substitute Neuville, who had seemed destined to break the deadlock from close to the penalty spot.

90': An amazing let-off for Poland as Germany twice hit the woodwork: Klose's header came back off the bar and Ballack blasted the rebound into exactly the same spot.

91': German supersub Neuville breaks Poland's hearts in stoppage time as he slid in to convert Odonkor's killer cross for a late winner to spark relief-charged celebrations in Dortmund and right across the host nation. (1-0)

In conclusion:
Germany left it as late as possible to claim the three points and Poland can count themselves unlucky after holding them at bay for so long as the result matched the score when the teams met in the 1974 FIFA World Cup™ semi-final.