Dortmund, June 15 :

An injury time strike from substitute Oliver Neuville gave Germany their second win in Group A against Poland in Dortmund on Wednesday.

Germany were frustrated for the majority of the match through poor finishing and excellent keeping from Polish custodian Artur Boruc. The result leaves them in a very good position to qualify for the round of 16.

The match began in incredible noise and a fantastic atmosphere in Dortmund with German fans filling up the majority of the stadium. Keeper Artur Boruc came under early pressure, from Miroslav Klose and referee Luis Medina Cantalejo blew for a free-kick close to the goal-line. In the ninth minute Poland striker Maciej Zurawski got a low shot on target, but it lacked power and Jens Lehmann saved it without problems.

Eleven minutes later the smallish Polish contingent in the stadium roared with excitement as Ireneusz Jelen appeared to have found space to shoot on the edge of the German penalty area, but last defender Per Mertesacker came to the rescue of the Germans.

In the 21st minute Philip Lahm’s left-footed cross was met by Klose with a flicked header and the ball passed agonisingly close to Boruc’s post, but just wide.

Nine minutes later, Germany skipper Michael Ballack, returning to the side after missing the opening match, tried a shot at Boruc, which deflected wide.

The Germans continued to create chances but not finish with Lahm releasing the Polish-born Lukas Podolski with a chipped pass who turned past Poland skipper Jacek Bak in a flash but his snapshot was straight at Boruc.

Four minutes before the breather, Bernd Schneider fed Podolksi inside the penalty area and, with his back to goal, he teed up Bastian Schweinsteiger to shoot, but the Bayern Munich midfielder blazed it over the top.

In the second half the fans grew restless and whisteled with fury when Boruc took his time with a goal-kick.

In the 75th minute Radaslow Sobolewski brought down Klose near the touchline and he was sent off after being shown his second yellow card, leaving Poland to last the final 15 minutes with only ten men. Schneider’s resulting free-kick evaded everyone and almost went in.

Boruc kept Poland level with two fantastic stops within a minute, first from Lahm and then to deny Germany substitute Neuville. In the 90th minute, with Germans swarming all over the Polish goal, Germany twice hit the woodwork. First it was Klose’s header, which came back off the bar while Ballack blasted the rebound into the same spot.

In injury time German supersub Neuville broke Polish hearts when he slid in to convert Odonkor’s cross for a late winner to spark celebrations in Dortmund.

Painuly is an Editorial Consultant with The Himalayan Times and is writing exclusively for THT from Germany.