Sunderland centre back John O’Shea scored a dramatic late equaliser on his 100th appearance for Ireland to give the underdogs a shock 1-1 draw against the World Champions Germany.
Germany started the game promising when Borussia Dortmund left back, Erik Durm hit the crossbar from over 30-yards-out with a world class volley in the 5th minute. A clever costless kick in the 14th minute from Toni Kroos resulted in Rudiger heading the ball just wide of the post. Germany had a good chance to take the lead when Draxler laid the ball of to Kroos, but the Real Madrid midfielder’s rocket of a shot went just wide of the left post. Germany came close again to scoring when Forde found himself chasing a loose ball from outside the penalty box, his clearance went straight to the feet of Julian Draxler but the Schalke winger’s first time effort went right to John O’Shea, who cleared the ball behind for a corner. Matthias Ginter came close to breaking the deadlock for Germany in the 40th minute but his header from a Kroos costless kick went high over the bar.
Draxler had a close range shot in the last seconds of the first save well dealt with by Forde. Germany struggled to break down the Irish defence, with the reigning champions only managing two shots on target. Ireland defended very well in the opening 45 minutes but they didn’t look very convincing going forward. Ireland started the game surprisingly well when Aiden McGeady’s cross sprang Manuel Neuer into life for the first time in the game, moments later substitute Lukas Podolski had a shot from way out saved well by David Forde. Bellarabi came close in the 53rd minute but a brilliant save from Forde denied the winger. Forde again was called into action a minute later to deny Toni Kroos from long range with a world class save to deny the former Bayern Munich midfielder. Germany were wrongly denied a penalty when Podolski was played into the penalty box and the Arsenal outcast was brought down by an Irish defender, however the referee claimed that Podolski had dived and a costless kick was given to Ireland. Germany were again denied a penalty when Mario Gotze was dragged down in the box but again Skomina allowed play to continue.
Toni Kroos finally broke the deadlock after 70 minutes of solid Irish defending. The Real Madrid midfielder fired in a low, hard shot on the edge of the penalty box and the ball fired its way past Forde off the inside of the post and into the back of the net to give the 4 time World Champions the lead. Forde denied Mario Gotze from doubling Germany’s lead with another world class save in the 80th minute. Hoolahan almost grabbed a shock equaliser in the 85th minute, but a world-class block by Erik Durm denied the midfielder from levelling the score. Ireland scored a shock late equaliser against the World Champions in the 3rd minute of stoppage time when John O’Shea popped up inside the penalty box who poked the ball past Neuer to give Ireland the vital point with the last kick of the game.