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Last gasp Ireland deny Germans

Keane rescues a point for Ireland with his injury time strike

IBARAKI, Japan -- Ireland scored an injury time equaliser to draw 1-1 with Germany and keep their World Cup dream alive.

As the final seconds of the match ticked away Robbie Keane ran onto a through ball on the edge of the six-yard box and blasted his shot into the roof of the net.

The goal had Irish coach Mick McCarthy skipping onto the pitch in celebration and cancelled out Miroslav Klose's first-half goal -- scored when he rose between two Irish defenders to meet Michael Ballack's pinpoint cross and head past keeper Shay Given.

It was Kloses's fourth of the tournament following his hat-trick against Saudi Arabia.

Klose could have had a second in the second half when he was set free in the Irish penalty area but his chip past Given went just wide as the keeper rushed out to narrow the angle.

Ireland started the second half confidently but failed to make serious inroads against an organised German side until Steve Finnan's centre caused chaos in the German defence.

Klose celebrates his fourth goal in two games

Kevin Kilbane headed down into the path of Damien Duff, lurking on the six-yard box, and only a reaction save from Khan prevented a certain equaliser.

With the minutes ticking away the ball broke for Keane and as he raced into the penalty area Khan only just managed to storm out of his goalmouth to clear.

In injury time Keane was again in the penalty area -- this time with fortune on his side to beat Khan.

Throughout the second-half Ireland pressed forward, but often without a clinical final ball, while Germany's attacks were fewer but more incisive.

Ballack directed a header wide, Klose did the same and also had the chip chance, and substitute Marco Bode almost got past Given. But they could not beat Given for a second time

Matt Holland came closest for Ireland in the first-half, almost scoring a carbon copy of his strike against Cameroon but this time the volley whipped past the diving Oliver Khan and wide of the post.

Khan was also on hand in the first 45 minutes to cut out a couple of Irish crosses before the Irish strikers could turn them into goal opportunities.

Germany started the game with the same team that thrashed Saudi Arabia 8-0 in their opening game while Ireland, who opened with a 1-1 draw against Cameroon, brought in Steve Finnan in place of Jason McAteer.

Germany Oliver Kahn, Thomas Linke, Carsten Ramelow, Christoph Metzelder, Torsten Frings, Dietmar Hamann, Bernd Schneider, Michael Ballack, Christian Ziege, Miroslav Klose, Carsten Jancker.

Ireland Shay Given, Gary Kelly, Gary Breen, Steve Staunton, Ian Harte, Steve Finnan, Matt Holland, Mark Kinsella, Kevin Kilbane, Damien Duff, Robbie Keane.

Referee Kim Milton Nielsen (Denmark)