Germany rescued by late goal against Ivory Coast

Berlin: An injury-time goal by Lukas Podolski earned Germany a 2-2 friendly draw against Ivory Coast on Wednesday, the home team`s first game since last week`s suicide of national keeper Robert Enke.

Germany took an 11th-minute lead when Guy Demel brought down Stefan Kiessling and Podolski sent the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot. Ivory Coast, who like Germany have qualified for next year`s World Cup in South Africa, equalised in bizarre fashion after 57 minutes. Halftime substitute keeper Manuel Neuer attempted to clear a back pass but the ball cannoned off Eboue and dribbled into the net. Seydou Doumbia put the Ivorians in front with a blistering 85th-minute drive before Podolski struck in the third minute of stoppage time.Before the game there was an emotional tribute to Enke, who jumped in front of an express train on Nov. 10. Injured captain Michael Ballack laid an Enke shirt on the German substitutes` bench, Ivory Coast players wore shirts sporting the keeper`s picture and a minute`s silence was held. After the game Germany`s coach, Joachim Loew, said the players had not yet got over Enke`s death. "You could see it was still affecting us," he said. "I felt sick... We couldn`t free ourselves." Bureau Report