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Germany national football team
International Friendlies
Mar 25, 2015 at 7.30pm UK
 
Australia national football team

2-2

Reus (17'), Podolski (81')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Troisi (40'), Jedinak (50')

Australia hold Germany in entertaining draw

An impressive display from Australia sees them hold world champions Germany to a 2-2 draw in Kaiserslautern.

An impressive display from Australia saw them hold world champions Germany to a 2-2 draw in Kaiserslautern this evening.

Marco Reus's first-half goal was cancelled out by James Troisi before Lukas Podolski rescued a draw for Joachim Low's side after Mile Jedinak's free kick had given the Socceroos the lead away from home.

Ilkay Gundogan went close early on when he curled a low effort goalwards from outside the box, but the well-struck effort flashed just wide of Matthew Ryan's left-hand post.

Matthew Leckie perhaps should have given Australia a shock lead inside the first 10 minutes when he dribbled past Benedikt Howedes before firing wide inside the area.

Nathan Burns was guilty of wasting a great opening for the Socceroos on 13 minutes when he met a cross from around six yards out with a wayward header.

Mario Gotze picked out Mesut Ozil with a cross-field pass on the edge of the box, but the Arsenal playmaker could only drag his shot wide, before Reus's instinctive finish was correctly ruled out for offside moments later.

However, the Borussia Dortmund star was not to be denied and the playmaker poked home on 17 minutes after a clever pass from Sami Khedira with the outside of his foot.

Germany's goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler fails to save the ball during the friendly football match Germany vs Australia in Kaiserslautern, southern Germany on March 25, 2015© Getty Images

Reus should have made it 2-0 on 22 minutes when he profited on a loose pass in the Australia defence but the attacking midfielder could only hit the side-netting with just Ryan to beat.

A promising break from the visitors saw Crystal Palace midfielder Jedinak let fly from distance and he brought out a good stop from goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler.

Leckie should have done better when he was sent scampering clean through on goal when he stood on the ball with just Zieler to beat just after the half-hour mark.

Troisi restored parity on 40 minutes when he met Burns's cross with a powerful header to mark his second goal in as many games for his country.

Reus almost caught Ryan off guard with an in-swinging free kick, and the keeper to be alert to tip the goal-bound effort over the bar shortly after the restart.

However, it was the Socceroos who took the lead through Jedinak when he curled home a free kick five minutes into the second period.

A promising attack from the world champions saw Ozil play in Karim Bellarabi, but the right-winger's effort was well saved by Ryan just before the hour mark.

A swift counter-attack should have brought about a third for Australia but Leckie was once again guilty as he headed at Zieler from around five yards out.

Bailey Wright was almost left embarrassed when the ball bounced over his head to Max Kruse who was through on goal, but the defender did well to poke the ball clear as the game ticked into the final 10 minutes.

The home side levelled things up when Podolski got on the end of Andre Schurrle's cut-back to strike home for his 48th goal for his country.

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Mathew Leckie of Australia in action during the Asian Cup Semi Final match between the Australian Socceroos and the United Arab Emirates at Hunter Stadium on January 27, 2015
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