The Werder stars Miroslav Klose, Torsten Frings and Tim Borowski all played a part in a determined German performance which brought their second win in the second game of the World Cup finals opening the door for progression to the knock out stages. Jürgen Klinsmann's men eventually got their winner against Poland in added time when substitutes David Odonkor and Oliver Neuville combined to give the host nation a deserved win. If Ecuador can avoid defeat against Costa Rica on Thursday, 15.06.2006 then Germany' s advancement to the knock-out stages will be guaranteed.
As expected, Jürgen Klinsmann made only one change to the side which beat Costa Rica in the opening game against Costa Rica which the hosts won 4:2. Werder's Tim Borowski returned to the bench to make way for captain Michael Ballack who was back to full fitness. Borowski did get a run-out though in the 77th minute, coming as a substitute for Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger.
65,000 fans at the FIFA World Cup Stadium Dortmund saw a game that got off to a speedy start with the visitors getting the first chance. Jens Lehmann was able to get down quickly to block Celtic striker Maciej Zurawski's low shot (9'). Sixty seconds later the German side had the answer with Ballack putting through Miroslav Klose who made Poland's keeper Artur Boruc work with a drive from a tight angle (10').
Ten minutes later the Polish born Klose was at it again as he rose to meet a perfectly weighted Philipp Lahm cross. The 28 year old striker had to rush his header though to avoid the onrushing Boruc and headed wide of the mark. Poland broke forward in the 27th minute but Ireneusz Jelen's shot didn't cause Lehmann any problems. The Polish goal fell under threat again when Germany's other Polish born striker, Lukas Podolski, turned on the ball and let fly from close range but the Celtic keeper was well placed to deal with the danger again.
During the closing phase of the first half the German side turned up the tempo again and put the Pole's under pressure. Podolski laid back to his future club colleague at Bayern Munich, Bastian Schweinsteiger, who drilled his effort over the crossbar (41'). Podolski himself had the best chance to give his side the lead in added time at the end of the first period. Lahm played the young striker in but the effort when just wide of the far post.
After the break Germany picked up where they left off with the Polish side being forced back deep into their own half but real goal chances were few and far between. Klinsmann decided to give his side another option up front and brought Dortmund winger David Odonkor for right full-back Arne Friedrich. Odonkor took the roll on the right win from Bernd Schneider who slotted into Friedrich's position. The pacy midfielder caused an instant impact and Poland were at a complete loss as to how to deal with his speed on the ball.
Klose was denied in the 64th minute again by the on form Boruc who managed to turn the Werder man's effort away for a corner. From the resulting set piece, Hanover's Per Mertesacker got his head to the ball but couldn't keep his effprt down on the occassion of winning his 25th international cap.
The Polish team were then reduced to ten men in the 75th minutem when Radoslaw Sobolewski recieved a second yellow for his foul on Miro Klose. From the free kick Klose flicked his header wide of the target again. During the final ten minutes the hosts put on even more pressure with their opponents tiring quickly. Philipp Lahm made a solo run and passed to substitute Oliver Neuville but the new man was denied by Boruc (80').
Both Klose and Ballack hit the crossbar in a frantic late burst leaving the game apparently destined for a scoreless draw. The substitutes Odonkor and Neuville combined to eventually give Germany a deserved winner in added time. Odonkor burst forward and cut the ball back from the by-line finding the on-rushing Neuville who dived in and netted with an out stretched leg. It was Neuville's ninth goal for the national side and one of his most memorable ones on a night that left no doubt as to the German sides roll as one of the favourites to take the title.
Johnnie Muldoon