Germany fight back to earn draw

WORLD CUP hosts Germany were forced to come from two goals down to earn a draw in their friendly at the BayArena against Japan.

Jurgen Klinsmann fielded a strong team — including Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack and Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann — but fell behind after a goalless first half.

Eintracht Frankfurt striker Naohiro Takahara scored either side of the hour mark to give the visitors the scent of victory, but late strikes from Miroslav Klose and Bastian Schweinsteiger ensured a draw.

West Brom goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak conceded an embarrassing goal in Poland’s 2-1 defeat against Colombia in Chorzow.

He allowed a kick from opposite number Luis Enrique Martinez to go over his head and in for the eventual winner after 63 minutes.

Elkin Murillo gave the visitors he lead before Martinez made it 2-0, with Ireneusz Jelen pulling one back late on.

Ivory Coast fielded their English Premiership stars but could not find a victory against Chile in Paris.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba featured, as did Arsenal pair Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue, but it was Aruna Dindane who opened the scoring when he fired home from the penalty spot after 71 minutes.

The lead did not last long, though, and Chile levelled matters with 13 minutes remaining through Humberto Suazo, ensuring consecutive 1-1 draws for the Ivory Coast following their clash against Switzerland at the weekend.

Vratislav Lokvenc scored a late winner for the Czech Republic against Costa Rica in Jablonec.

The Salzburg striker came off the bench with 19 minutes remaining and headed the only goal of the game with eight minutes left on the clock after a cross from Rangers midfielder Libor Sionko.

Aston Villa striker Milan Baros was named among the substitutes and was brought on at half-time for the World Cup-bound Czechs. Former Manchester City striker Paulo Wanchope featured for Costa Rica.

Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze stepped up his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury by featuring in Argentina’s win against Angola.

Maximiliano Rodriguez and Juan Pablo Sorin scored the goals in Naples as Argentina cruised to a 2-0 victory, with Lionel Messi coming off the bench as he too stepped up his own return from injury.

Rangers midfielder Hamed Namouchi scored a penalty in Tunisia’s 3-0 friendly win over Belarus in Tunis.

Namouchi opened the scoring in the 35th minute, with Francileudo Santos doubling the lead before Issam Jomaa completed the scoring. Karim Hagui was dismissed for two bookable offences.

Meanwhile, in a friendly involving teams who failed to qualify for the World Cup, Uruguay defeated Libya 2-1.