Group A
Germany 1, Poland 0
Oliver Neuville scored in injury time on Wednesday, giving Germany a 1-0 win over Poland in Group A of the World Cup.
Neuville slid the ball in with a low shot from close range after a right-wing cross from fellow substitute David Odonkor.
A few minutes earlier, Miroslav Klose and captain Michael Ballack both hit the crossbar. Klose headed a cross against the bar in the 90th, and Ballack connected with the rebound which bounced off nearly the same spot.
"The goal came very late but it was well deserved," Ballack said. "We won a lot of challenges ... We were better on challenges than we were against Costa Rica."
Red card
Poland was down to 10 men after midfielder Radoslaw Sobolewski was sent off in the 75th minute for tripping Klose.
"After they went down to 10 men we gave everything to get a goal and it worked," Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann said. "The team maintained its rhythm. There was always a high tempo."
"We tried to step the pace in the second half. We tried to put them under pressure from the start. The way we held together and the support on and off the field was phenomenal," Klinsmann added.
It was Germany's first win over a European team at a major tournament since it won the 1996 European Championship by beating the Czech Republic in the final.
Germany, which beat Costa Rica 4-2 in its opening match, has six points, already enough to qualify for the round of 16.
Ecuador beat Poland 2-0 in its first match and defeated Costa Rica yesterday 3-0, sending Germany into the next round.
"I can't describe my feelings," said Odonkor, a rookie on the German team who plays for Borussia Dortmund. "When I got the ball, I looked up and crossed, but I didn't see whether a striker was there or not."
Scrappy affair
The game between the European neighbors was a scrappy affair and featured little flowing play, but plenty of tough challenges.
Ballack recovered from an injured muscle in his right calf that forced him to miss the win over Costa Rica and was at the center of the majority of the German team's attacks.
Klose, who was born in Poland, had a chance in the 21st minute when he headed a curling left-wing cross past the post with only onrushing goalkeeper Artur Boruc to beat.
Lukas Podolski -- another Germany striker born in Poland -- had a 35th-minute shot saved by Boruc and shot wide of the post in injury time.
Philipp Lahm, having another outstanding game after shining in the opener, set up Podolski with time running out in the first half but the striker, with only Boruc to beat, sent the ball wide of the far post from 3m.
"We had enough chances," Klose said.
Maciej Zurawski and Michal Zewlakow also had shots for Poland in the first half.
Ireneusz Jelen took a shot from the edge of the area in 58th, but Jens Lehmann saved easily.
Poland's coach Pawel Janas thanked his players for their "fight."
"Unfortunately, we still can't score goals," Janas said.
Ballack earned a yellow card for a tackle on Jelen, and the home fans were beginning to get restless while Polish supporters became louder.
Klose then came close after a German free kick, but Boruc punched his shot away.
Lahm and Neuville had their shots saved by Boruc late in the game as the Germans threw everything into attack, and Tim Borowski, another late substitute, just missed the target from outside the box.
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