 A goal deep into injury time by Robbie Keane won Ireland a deserved share of the points against Germany - and gave them a great chance of making the second round of the World Cup.
Keane ran onto a Niall Quinn flick with the game in its dying moments and lashed the ball past Oliver Kahn to send the Irish fans into ecstasy.
Miroslav Klose's fourth goal of the tournament, a trademark header on 18 minutes, had looked like being enough to see off the Irish despite another performance of character and guts.
Damian Duff and Matt Holland both went within inches of scoring in the second half but Oliver Kahn stood tall and Germany hung on - until Keane's late strike.
The goal was just reward for Ireland's patient approach. With a touch more luck, they could have been level on 55 minutes. Duff - impressive throughout - ran onto Gary Breen's knock-down and seemed certain to score, but Kahn threw himself in the way of his shot and the ball span wide.
Undaunted, Mick McCarthy's men kept working the ball around, searching for an opening.
Germany were offering almost nothing - until Michael Ballack's pass found Carsten Jancker clear in the box. The giant striker lifted the ball wide with Shay Given rushing out, and Ireland breathed again. Klose's goal was simplicity itself, a firm downward header from Ballack's long cross.
But McCarthy will be asking questions of his defence for allowing the striker so much room to finish.
Ireland almost struck back within minutes of falling behind. Gary Breen caused problems in the German defence and as the ball was half-cleared, Matt Holland struck a shot just past the post.
It signalled the start of a prolonged period of possession for the Irish, who looked to use Kevin Kilbane down the left whenever possible.
Germany were content to sit back and hit on the break, and nearly went two goals up when Ballack's shot from outside the box was palmed away by the sprawling Given.
McCarthy went for broke when he threw on both Niall Quinn and Stephen Reid with 15 minutes remaining, and it paid dividends as Ireland finally had the target man they had been lacking.
Then, with two of the three added minutes gone, Kilbane's cross was flicked into the box by Quinn's head and Leeds striker Keane became the hero as he smashed the ball home from eight yards for his 11th goal in 36 international appearances.
Germany
Oliver Kahn, Thomas Linke, Carsten Ramelow, Christoph Metzelder, Torsten Frings, Dietmar Hamann, Michael Ballack, Bernd Schneider (Jens Jeremies 90), Christian Ziege, Carsten Jancker (Oliver Bierhoff 75), Miroslav Klose (Marco Bode 85).
Goals: Klose 19.
Ireland
Shay Given, Steve Finnan, Gary Breen, Steve Staunton (Kenny Cunningham 87), Ian Harte (Steven Reid 73), Gary Kelly (Niall Quinn 73), Matt Holland, Mark Kinsella, Kevin Kilbane, Robbie Keane, Damian Duff.
Goals: Keane 90.
Attendance: 35,854 |
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