Futbolicious.com - Football News and Social Network

Striker Miroslav Klose scored a hat-trick to rescue a point for Germany as Joachim Löw's side came from behind three times to draw with a vibrant Finland side.

Open game
The UEFA EURO 2008™ finalists had kicked off their Group 4 campaign with a 6-0 rout of Liechtenstein on Saturday but they faced a much sterner challenge in Helsinki, where Jonatan Johansson pounced on a mix-up in the Germany defence to fire the home side ahead on 32 minutes.

Germany struggled defensively all night but Klose ensured they were rarely behind for long and he got the better of Sami Hyypiä to score his first goal six minutes later. Substitute Daniel Sjölund teed up Mika Väyrynen to volley in Finland's second two minutes before the break, but again the lead was shortlived. Klose struck shortly before half-time to restore parity, turning in his own rebound after his initial header from a corner had been parried by Jussi Jääskeläinen.

Germany point
Still, though, Finland kept coming. Spurred on by a full house at Helsinki's Olympiastadion, the home side came roaring back after the restart and their adventurous play found its reward when from Väyrynen's 53rd-minute cross, Sjölund caught Germany's defence flat-footed to head the Finns 3-2 in front.

Englishman Stuart Baxter looked on course for a surprise victory in his first competitive match as Finland coach as his team repelled a series of attacks in the closing stages but eventually Germany's pressure told, Klose claiming his hat-trick in the 83rd minute when he turned the ball in from close range following a goalmouth scramble.