KLOSE EQUALS RECORD AS GERMANY AND GHANA DRAW EPIC

Miroslav Klose equalled Ronaldo’s World Cup scoring record, finding the net with his first touch after coming on in Germany’s exhilarating 2-2 draw with Ghana.

A cagey first half saw few clearcut opportunities created, with Thomas Muller looking lively and Sulley Muntari testing Manuel Neuer with a long-range drive.

However, Germany took the lead when Mario Gotze headed home, via his own knee, from a Muller delivery into the penalty area.

Yet Ghana hit back almost immediately, with Andre Ayew scoring a header of his won, getting his head on a floated cross to power past Neuer.

The game was growing increasingly stretched, and Ghana made the most of that, taking the lead just after the hour mark, with Asamoah Gyan picking his pot after being played through by Sulley Muntari.

But with doubt creeping into the German players’ minds Klose scored with his first touch of the match having been brought on as a substitute, opportunistically turning home at the back post from a Benedikt Howedes flick-on to make it 2-2.

KEY STATS

Miroslav Klose scored with his first touch of the ball, 112 seconds after coming on as a sub.

Klose has equalled Ronaldo’s record of 15 goals at World Cup finals.

Both players scored their 15th goal against Ghana.

Klose is only the third player in World Cup history to score in four different editions of the competition (after Pele and Uwe Seeler).

Asamoah Gyan equalled Roger Milla’s record of five goals, they are the two highest scoring Africans at World Cups.

Gyan has now scored in three World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014).

Germany have scored in 19 of their last 20 World Cup group games.

Thomas Muller now has eight goals and four assists in eight World Cup appearances.

Mario Götze has scored three goals in his last three appearances for Germany, and four in five in 2014.

Per Merteacker became the 13th player to appear 100 times for Germany.

Germany have won their second World Cup group game on just one occasion since 1994 (D4 L1).