Skip to content

Ballack bags late win

Image: Germany celebrate Ballack's winner

Oliver Neuville and Michael Ballack struck late on as Germany came from a goal down to beat Serbia..

Germany's blushes spared after late win

Oliver Neuville and Michael Ballack struck late on as Germany came from a goal down to beat Serbia 2-1 in Gelsenkirchen. Germany began the contest in indifferent form after being held to a surprising 2-2 draw with Belarus on Tuesday. Joachim Low fielded a strong starting XI, but it was the visitors who opened the scoring through Bosko Jankovic with 18 minutes played. Sasa Ilic split the defence and centre-back Christoph Metzelder was sluggish to respond as midfielder Jankovic sprinted into the penalty area before tucking home past Jens Lehmann.

Double change

Serbia proceeded to lead for nearly an hour with only a late double change by Low bringing about a change of fortune. Torsten Frings and Kevin Kuranyi were replaced by Simon Rolfes and Neuville and it was the latter who levelled the contest within four minutes of coming on. Ballack slid a pass into defender Marcell Jansen on the edge of the Serb's penalty area and he rocketed a cross in for Neuville to smash past Vladimir Stojkovic on 74 minutes. With just eight minutes remaining Chelsea ace Ballack secured the win and lift spirits ahead of their Euro 2008 opener against Poland in 10 days' time after unleashing an unstoppable free-kick.

Around Sky