Germany fight back for 2-2 draw with Japan

LEVERKUSEN, Germany, May 30 (Reuters) - World Cup hosts Germany came from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw with fellow finalists Japan in a warm-up game on Tuesday.

Naohiro Takahara struck two fine goals to give Japan a 2-0 lead by the 65th minute and the visitors might have had more as Germany turned in a shocking defensive display.

Germany, who had Michael Ballack back in the side after injury, were stung into reaction by that second goal and replied when Miroslav Klose bundled in a Bastian Schweinsteiger free kick at the far post in the 76th minute.

Four minutes later, Schweinsteiger headed in a Bernd Schneider free kick to salvage a draw that will at least keep the flame of optimism flickering in the host nation.

Japan, who are in Group F with Brazil, Croatia and Australia, had Akira Kaji taken off on a stretcher in the first half. It was not immediately clear how serious the injury was.

Germany have one more warm-up match against Colombia on June 2 before they get the World Cup underway against Costa Rica in Munich on June 9.

The hosts have further Group A matches against Poland and Ecuador.

Coach Juergen Klinsmann knows he has much work to do on his defence in the final days before the World Cup. "Obviously it feels better to equalise after being two goals down," he said.

MANY CHANCES

"A defeat would have been irritating but not the end of the world. We let them have too many chances."

Ballack surprisingly started on the right side of midfield. The idea was to give Tim Borowski a free role in the centre after his good display in Saturday's 7-0 win over Luxembourg but it seemed to confuse the German midfield.

Japan almost took advantage of the disarray when Atsushi Yanagisawa slipped a reverse pass to Hidetoshi Nakata, who forced goalkeeper Jens Lehmann to save with his feet. The visitors had an even better chance when Nakata dispossessed Torsten Frings, received a return pass and shot limply into the arms of Lehmann on the edge of his area.

Lehmann had to save again from Yanagisawa from another swift break at the start of the second half.

Jens Nowotny came on to replace Christoph Metzelder at centre-back and win his first cap since Euro 2004.

Almost immediately he was caught hopelessly out of position as Japan broke from a corner, leaving Takahara to take advantage by lifting a shot into the top of the net in the 57th minute.

Eight minutes later, Takahara helped himself to a second, turning inside Ballack from the right of the area and scoring in off the par post.

热身赛：德国2-2艰难平日本 克帅险遭耻辱惨败

北京时间5月31日凌晨，在德国勒沃库森举行的一场世界杯热身赛上，主场作战的德国队被日本队2-2逼平。下半场在德甲效力的高原直泰为“亚洲冠军”打入两球，克林斯曼领军的德国队由克洛斯和施魏因斯泰格扳回两球，避免世界杯东道主在主场蒙羞

巴拉克伤愈复出，德国队主力阵容倾巢出动，克洛斯和“科隆王子”波多尔斯基在锋线上搭档。开场之后，主场作战的德国队并无优势，第7分钟，效力于德甲汉堡的日本球星高原直泰摆脱了默特萨克的防守在门前11米处起脚打门，球偏右门柱而出。第9分钟，巴拉克前场漂亮的妙传，可惜接应的施威因施泰格停球没停好，错失一次得分良机。日本人的侵略性的防守战术令德国人很不适应，第12分钟，柳泽敦在禁区前漂亮的妙传，中田英寿杀入禁区面对莱曼一脚打门，被莱曼神奇扑救，德国人逃过一劫。第14分钟，禁区内柳泽敦同博罗夫斯基都有互相拉扯球衣的动作，分别吃到黄牌。

第16分钟，日本队反击机会，中村俊辅前场漂亮的一塞，柳泽敦快速插上一脚打门，莱曼站位不错将球得到。第18分钟，三都主左路传中，高原直泰中路接应倒地了，主裁判没有理会

战至第22分钟，巴拉克禁区内的打门被中泽佑二挡出。第25分钟，克洛斯禁区边缘抓住机会一脚劲射，非常有威胁。德国队逐渐控制了场面，无奈球运欠佳，未能形成进球。第28分钟，施奈德将球传到禁区，中泽佑二解围，弗林斯禁区外一脚远射打高了。第36分钟，施威因施泰格铲倒加地亮，导致后者提前退场。上半场最后时刻，德国队门前再次出现危机。第40分钟，中村俊辅任意球发到禁区，中田英寿打门没有力量，中泽佑二补射直接让莱曼没收。接着中泽佑二带球突入禁区，正将与莱曼形成对决之时，施奈德拍马赶到，在关键时刻一脚将球破坏出底线。第42分钟，克洛斯的妙传，施威因施泰格的打门迫使川口能活做出一次精彩扑救。第45分钟，巴拉克被黄牌警告。随着波多尔斯基左侧突入禁区小角度打门被扑出，主裁判吹响了上半场结束的哨声。

下半场，风云突变，日本队改打攻势足球。第52分钟，日本队一次绝好的反击机会，柳泽敦禁区内的劲射被挡出。第55分钟，三都主突破后传中，球打在边网上。第57分钟，德国队角球进攻失败，日本队打快速反击，柳泽敦中圈附近送出妙传，高原直泰获得单刀良机，门前15米处右脚冷静射门得分，日本队1-0领先。克林斯曼用小将奥东克尔替下博罗夫斯基。角球进攻，巴拉克头球攻门被后卫用身体挡出。第65分钟，驹野友一在禁区内一记妙传给高原直泰，后者晃过巴拉克等三名德国球员的防守，在11米处一脚劲射，球直入左侧死角，日本队2-0领先！高原直泰也实现了梅开二度。随后，奥东克尔右路突破到禁区内摔倒，主裁判认为他假摔出示黄牌警告。两球落后，克林斯曼只能求助于老将诺伊维尔。

德国队很快出现了反攻狂潮，先是巴拉克在禁区弧顶处一脚精彩的凌空打门偏出。转机出现，第76分钟，施威因施泰格左路任意球开到禁区，后点克洛斯门前5米垫射得分，德国队扳回一分，1-2。第81分钟，施奈德主罚任意球，前点施威因施泰格用一记漂亮的头球攻门回敬日本队，德国队把比分扳成了2-2。日本队用进攻缓解了危机，第83分钟，中田英寿直塞空裆，大黑将志高速突破到禁区内一脚推射，莱曼将球挡出。第86分钟，中村俊辅精彩传中，中田英寿的打门被莱曼扑出，错失锁定胜局的机会。第87分钟，驹野友一右路突破，施威因施泰格防守犯规，中村俊辅任意球开到禁区，但是没有下文。日本队最终2-2战平德国，平局是他们乐于接受的。