Berlin, June 2 (IANS) Wasteful Germany were unable to wrap a win as Cameroons Eric Maxim – Choupo Moting levelled the scores in the closing period to snatch a draw in Monchengladbach on Sunday.
A day after Germany’s training camp, Joachim Loew’s squad failed to reap an expected win against Cameroon. The Germans dominated the first half but remained ineffective in front of Cameroon’s goal area while the visitors shocked the hosts with two goals at the second half, Xinhua reported.
The “Nationalelf” started highly motivated into their penultimate friendly before the World Cup in Brazil.
As a consequence the Germans created their first chance at the first minute when Mesut Oezil failed to beat Cameroons goalkeeper Charles Hubert Itandje. Mario Goetze had the opener on his feet minutes later but custodian Itandje tipped the ball to the right post to deny the score at the 11th minute.
Cameroon lacked in penetration but staged rough tackles, giving the Germans a hard time in creating opportunities.
However, things changed at the second half as Samuel Eto broke the deadlock for the “Lions” at the 62nd minute. Germany failed to clear the ball from the goal area following a save by goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller before Eto slotted home into the far post corner.
Joachim Loew’s squad responded just four minutes later through Thomas Mueller, who benefited on a cross by Jerome Boateng to the near post to nod home from close range.
Germany completed their comeback at the 71st minute by courtesy of Andre Schuerrle who poked home Lukas Podolski’s square pass into the open goal.
It looked like Germany were not done for the scoring but it were the hosts that carved out a two-all draw thanks to the equalizer by Eric Maxim Choupo Moting. The striker overcame Weidenfeller with a long-range shot into the far post corner at the 78th minute. In the end both sides were unable to clinch a last minute victory.
“Our passing game was not good, that brought us in trouble. However, we have to utilize our chances. We still have a lot to do,” Germany coach Joachim Loew said.
The coach will have to submit his 23-man squad for Brazil to the FIFA on Monday before the Germans encounter Armenia for the last friendly before the World Cup in Brazil June 6.