Late comeback lifts Germany
Two second-half goals earn draw with Yugoslavia
Posted: Sunday June 21, 1998 12:21 PM
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Oliver Bierhoff (left) and Juergen Klinsmann celebrate after Bierhoff's goal drew Germany even (AP) |
LENS, France (AP) --
Oliver Bierhoff headed a goal in the 80th minute as Germany came
back from a two-goal deficit Sunday to steal a 2-2 draw against Yugoslavia.
In a match between the two Group F favorites, Yugoslavia looked on
course for three points just after halftime when Dragan Stojkovic made the
score 2-0. Dejan Stankovic had opened the scoring for Yugoslavia
early on. But Germany benefited from a fortunate deflection goal in
the 74th minute, and 10 minutes from time Bierhoff leveled the score at
2-2. "We made possible what seemed impossible," German coach Berti Vogts
said. "We turned defeat into a near victory." "They wanted to toy with
us instead of trying to score a third goal and they got punished for that,"
Vogts said. With Germany and Yugoslavia having won their opening
games, both teams knew that victory would mean a near certain place in the
next round. "I am sad and happy," said Yugoslav coach Slobodan
Santrac. "I am happy with the outcome but I am sad that we let the victory
slip away." "We let them get back into the match and equalize," Santrac
said. Yugoslavia dominated the early exchanges and scored after 13
minutes. Real Madrid striker Predrag Mijatovic, 30 meters from goal,
drove in a left wing cross, and Stankovic got the faintest of touches as
the ball bounced over German goalkeeper Andreas Koepke. Though
Mijatovic looked to have scored directly, Stankovic, the 19-year-old
midfielder who recently ageed a move from Red Star Belgrade to Lazio of
Rome, was credited with the goal. Yugoslav captain Stojkovic,
playing his 65th international, was the first half's most influential
player. After 33 minutes, he played a superb pass that beat the
German offside trap. Darko Kovacevic was first to the ball, but his close
range shot was blocked by Koepke. Minutes later, Mijatovic fired in
a dangerous cross from the right, and Germany needed a desperate challenge
from Juergen Kohler to clear the danger in front of an onrushing Stankovic.
German coach Berti Vogts brought on Lothar Matthaeus in the second
half, giving the former German captain a record 22 World Cup appearances.
"We knew they would show their real face today, they played a very
strong technical game," Matthaeus said. "But our team showed its morale by
coming back." Yugoslavia doubled its lead three minutes into the
second half courtesy of a blunder from Koepke. Slavisa Jokanovic
made a storming run through the heart of the German defense, before
knocking the ball to Kovacevic. The Real Sociedad forward played
what looked like a weak cross, but Koepke fumbled the ball to present
Stojkovic with a simple tap-in from two meters. Germany was
struggling for inspiration, but began its unlikely comeback with a
fortunate goal after 73 minutes. Substitute Michael Tarnat hit a
left-footed free kick from 25 meters that struck Sinisa Mihajlovic's
outstretched right boot to give goalkeeper Ivica Kralj no chance.
Bierhoff then rose superbly to head a right-wing corner from Thon into the
net to salvage the draw. Lineups: Germany: Andreas Koepke;
Christian Woerns, Juergen Kohler, Olaf Thon; Joerg Heinrich, Andy Moeller
(Ulf Kirsten, 51st), Jens Jeremis, Dietmar Hamann (Lothar Matthaeus, 46th),
Christian Ziege (Michael Tarnat, 62nd); Juergen Klinsmann, Oliver Bierhoff.
Yugoslavia: Ivica Kralj; Sinisa Mihajlovic, Slobodan
Komljenovic, Zeljko Petrovic, Goran Djorovic; Slavisa Jokanovic, Dragan
Stojkovic, Dejan Sankovic (Dejan Govedarica, 65th), Vladimir Jugovic; Darko
Kovacevic (Perica Ognjenovic, 51st), Predrag Mijatovic.
Referee: Kim Milton Nielsen, Denmark.
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