FORTALEZA, Brazil -- Miroslav Klose rescued a point for Germany, and equaled the World Cup scoring record in the process.
D.J.
Humphries Cardinals Jersey . Germany was held to an entertaining 2-2 draw
by Ghana on Saturday and needed Kloses second-half equalizer to avoid another
second-game letdown that has plagued the team in recent tournaments. Klose now
has 15 career World Cup goals, equaling the mark set by former Brazil star
Ronaldo. He celebrated the goal with his trademark somersault. "It wasnt
perfect, but I cant remember the last time I did it," Klose said. "Still, 15
goals in 20 matches, thats not bad." Just like in 2010, Germany won its opening
game of the World Cup 4-0 but struggled in its second game. Four years ago, it
was beaten 1-0 by Serbia, and the Germans were on the verge of losing again on
Saturday. The draw was good news for the United States, however, as the
Americans would advance from the group if they beats Portugal on Sunday. "Ghana
really threw everything they had at us. It was a very animated match. Both teams
had many chances, and many counterattacks," Germany coach Joachim Loew said.
"Thats not how the match was planned, but thats how it turned out." Klose scored
the equalizer in the 71st minute, less than two minutes after coming on as a
substitute, when a corner by Toni Kroos was flicked to the far post by Benedikt
Hoewedes and the striker slid in to knock the ball into the roof of the net.
Ronaldo reacted with a tweet: "Welcome to the club (hashtag)klose. I can imagine
your happiness!!!! What a great Cup!!!?" Mario Goetze had put Germany ahead in
the 51st, but Ghana equalized three minutes later through Andre Ayew. Ghana
captain Asamoah Gyan then put the Africans ahead in the 63rd, only to see Klose
cancel out his goal. The 36-year-old Klose is in his fourth World Cup and had
been level with former Germany striker Gerd Mueller on 14 goals. Ronaldo also
scored his 15th against Ghana, in a 3-0 win in 2006 in Germany. With coach
Joachim Loew preferring to play with a "false nine" system without a striker,
Klose sat out Germanys opening 4-0 rout of Portugal. But with Ghana threatening
to put a damper on Germanys hope of winning the group, Loew turned to his
veteran, who delivered again. "I am very happy for Klose. He was on the pitch
for two minutes and he scored. Its sensational for his career," Loew said. "He
is a player who can come on and have a decisive impact. Thats great for me, for
the team, and for him." Still, the result revived Ghanas hopes of progressing
after its opening 2-1 loss to the United States. "It was a good competitive
game. We did our best and we had many other chances that could have produced
goals," Ghana coach James Appiah said. "Ghanaians have a strong mentality when
it comes to football, to fight to the end to matter what is happening. Playing
against Germany is difficult especially when you are a goal down. So you have to
have the right players with the right mentality on the pitch." Germany took the
lead when Thomas Mueller sent a dipping cross toward Goetze, who attempted a
header but the ball bounced off his left knee into the net. Germanys lead lasted
only three minutes. Ayew rose between Per Mertesacker and Shkodran Mustafi to
head the equalizer inside the far post from a cross from Harrison Affu. With the
non-German side of crowd loudly behind the Ghana team, the African side kept
putting pressure on the favoured Germans. Gyan beat an offside trap by Mats
Hummels and Mertesacker in the 63rd, ran into space and fired the ball past
goalkeeper Manuel Neuer into the far corner to raise Ghanas hopes of an upset.
In between the first two goals, a fan ran onto the pitch waving his shirt. He
did not threaten any players but shook hands with Ghanas Sully Muntari, who
escorted him off the field before he was picked up by a security official.
Ushers then moved to block stairwells leading to the pitch. Both teams had late
chances to grab the winner but Neuer and his Ghana counterpart Fatawu Dauda
produced good saves. Muntari picked up a late yellow card late in the match for
his second booking and will miss his teams final group game against Portugal.
Schalke forward Kevin-Prince Boateng played from the start for Ghana, pitting
him against half-brother Jerome Boateng, a Germany defender. There was little
contact between the two and Jerome was substituted at halftime with a hip
injury. Mueller, who scored a hat trick against Portugal, had to be helped off
the pitch after the match with a bloodied face after colliding with John Boye.
-------- Lineups: Germany: Manuel Neuer; Jerome Boateng (Shkodran Mustafi,
46th), Per Mertesacker, Mats Hummels, Benedikt Howedes; Sami Khedira (Bastian
Schweinsteiger, 70th), Philipp Lahm, Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil; Thomas Muller,
Mario Gotze (Miroslav Klose, 69th). Ghana: Fatau Dauda; Harrison Afful, John
Boye, Jonathan Mensah; Kwadwo Asamoah, Sulley Muntari, Mohammed Rabiu (Emmanuel
Agyemang-Badu, 78th), Christian Atsu (Mubarak Wakaso, 72nd), Andre Ayew;
Kevin-Prince Boateng (Jordan Ayew, 52nd), Asamoah Gyan.
Evan
Mathis Cardinals Jersey . One out away from finishing off an impressive
shutout, they let a must-win game slip away.
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coverage of the 2015 event from Melbourne. Watch Eugenie Bouchards opening round
match at the Australian Open live tonight on TSN5 at 3am et/Midnight pt.
http://www.uscardinalslockroom.com/Black-Friday-Drew-Butler-Jersey/ . The former Edmonton Oilers defenceman was with the St. Louis Blues in training
camp on a professional tryout. Whitney, 30, had four goals and 13 points in 34
games with the Oilers last season.BARCELONA, Spain -- Lionel Messi ended
Barcelonas run of three straight losses and kept it in the Spanish league title
chase by scoring a late free kick to complete its 2-1 comeback win over Athletic
Bilbao on Sunday. Messis 75th-minute goal answered some of the criticism the
clubs all-time leading scorer had received for his lacklustre performances in
the teams recent losses in the league, Champions League and Copa del Rey final.
Barcelona was on its way to another defeat when Aritz Aduriz scored in the 50th,
provoking a smattering of white handkerchiefs in the Camp Nou stands, but Pedro
Rodriguez equalized when he slotted in Alexis Sanchezs scuffed strike in the
72nd. Barcelona still needed defender Javier Mascherano to block Mikel Ricos
point-blank try in injury time to protect the three points after Cristian Tello
had wasted one of numerous opportunities to put the result beyond doubt. "After
the first half I thought that this wasnt to be our day after missing so many
chances," said Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino, whose job probably depends on
Barcelona catching Atletico to defend its title. "But we kept fighting. We
played with a lot of heart to overcome a difficult week and a game that had
turned against us. Messi defends himself on the pitch and I am happy for him."
Barcelona moved provisionally into second place, four points behind leader
Atletico Madrid. Madrid is two points behind Barcelona but with a game to play.
Messi set up his winner after earning a foul on the edge of the area, and the
Argentina forward used his left foot to finally beat Gorka Iraizoz after the
goalkeeper had denied him twice. While not exactly his electrifying old self,
Messi was active creating scoring chances from the start, but Alexis Sanchez
sent Pedros pass off the bar from close range in the 38th. Barcelonas attack was
working. Its defence, however, showed the same frailties that have plagued it in
the second half of the season. Adurizs beautiful bicycle kick crashed into the
post before goalkeeper Jose Pinto palmed away Markel Susaetas follow-up at thhe
half-hour mark.
Rodney
Gunter Cardinals Jersey. The patience of Barcelonas fans began to fray
when Bartra lost the ball near his area and Aduriz expertly drove the ball into
the corner of the net. And when Messi sent the ball wide one-on-one against
Iraizoz a collective groan filled the stadium. But Pedro was finally able to
steer the ball in when Dani Alves began a move from the right flank to start
Barcelona on its way to a much-needed victory. "We knew that after all the
opinions and criticism that we have received that we had to do our job and be
professionals," Mascherano said. "We have to hold on to that small hope that if
we win our games we can then see what happens. We cant just let (Atletico and
Madrid) slip up and not be there." Bilbaos loss put its hold on fourth place and
the last Champions League in danger after Sevilla closed the gap to three points
by thrashing Granada 4-0, with the Basques hosting the Andalusian side next
round. Sevilla, which opens its Europa League semifinal against Valencia on
Thursday, eased past Granada thanks to Diego Mainzs own goal and goals by Kevin
Gameiro, Stephane Mbia and Victor Machin. Celta Vigo outclassed Almeria with a
4-2 away win as forward Manuel "Nolito" Agudo netted a double, and Paulao scored
one goal and set up another, but both for the wrong team, as bottom-side Real
Betis slumped to a demoralizing 3-1 defeat at Rayo Vallecano. Celta kept Almeria
in the relegation zone thanks to Nolitos brace and goals by fellow forwards
Charles and Fabian Orellana, while Rafina set up two scores. Paulaos nightmare
began in the 14th when he left his back pass woefully short of reaching
goalkeeper Adan Garrido, and Rochina Raixes poached the ball to roll it in. The
Brazilian defender followed that mistake by clearing a cross into his own net in
the 27th. Paulao asked to be substituted and was replaced five minutes later,
with the Rayo fans in Vallecas Stadium politely applauding him to show their
support. Betis was left on the brink of relegation, 10 points from safety with
four games to go.
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