Podolski goal spares Germany's blushes

Germany 1 Finland 1

Germany needed a late goal by Lukas Podolski to snatch a draw at home to Finland in their final 2010 World Cup qualifier tonight.

Jonatan Johansson's goal in the 11th minute ended Germany's six-match run without conceding, dating back to Russia's goal just over a year ago.

But Podolski's sixth goal of the qualification campaign finally rescued Germany, in the 90th minute of a match with no bearing on qualification - the hosts already assured of first place and Finland unable to pip Russia for second.