Euro Qualifier: O'Shea's late strike earns Irish draw with Germany

John OShea marked his 100th cap with a lastminute equaliser to seal Irelands dramatic 11 draw with Germany on Tuesday as the world champions Euro 2016 qualifying woes continued Germany were heading to a 10 win in Gelsenkirchen after a Toni Kroos goal before OShea stabbed his shot home with the games final kick to celebrate his landmark in styleIrelands defender John OShea R celebrates after scoring against Germany Pic AFPGermany had far more chances In the last ten minutes we had to hope to get something on the counter said the centreback after beating Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer At the end the best goalkeeper in the world couldnt keep it outIt was a great moment We have a fantastic spirit we didnt want to come off having lost with people thinking we just did ok After their 33match unbeaten run in qualifiers was ended by Saturdays 20 shock defeat to Poland in Warsaw Germanys finishing again deserted them as Ireland claimed a deserved pointWere all disappointed I think that was Irelands only chance of the game and they scored from it said Germany coach Joachim Loew In the last few minutes we were simply naive It was a difficult game Ireland packed their entire team behind the ball and we should have had some patienceThe result keeps Germany fourth in the Group D table but level on four points with Scotland while the Irish are level on seven points with leaders Poland but second on goal difference Germany host minnows and bottom side Gibraltar in Nuremberg next month while Ireland had a confidence boost ahead of their clash with Scotland in Glasgow But three months after winning the World Cup Germany again produced a belowpar performance which has not been helped by a host of injuries and retirements Loew was forced into two changes after both Chelseas Andre Schuerrle and Borussia Moenchengladbachs Christoph Kramer dropped out with fluIreland were chasing their first win over Germany in 20 years but Germany made a bright start with leftback Erik Durm hitting the crossbar after just five minutes from 32 metres Just as they did in Warsaw Germany enjoyed over 65 percent possession but just like Poland before them the Irish defence repeatedly thwarted the German attack Ireland defended doggedly in the first 45 minutes and Germanys Neuer had an easy half as he did not have to make a single save Loew made a tactical switch at the break taking off defensive midfielder Matthias Ginter and putting Lukas Podolski on the right wing Julian Draxler pushed inside from the wing as a second attacking midfielder alongside Mario Goetze in a 4141 formation The Germans lack of finishing grew more acutePodolski went down hard in the area on 58 minutes amidst a posse of Irish defenders but referee Damir Skomina judged the Arsenal star had fouled Ireland centreback Marc Wilson in the process With an hour gone Ireland manager Martin ONeill also went for a change of tactics He switched striker Robbie Keane for Everton midfielder Darron Gibson with the Irish struggling to contain the waves of German attacks in the middleGoetze seemed to have been fouled in the area with 68 minutes gone but Skomina waved play on as Loew threw on striker Max Kruse for Draxler on 70 minutes Just seconds later Kroos shot beat Forde from 25 metres and crashed in off the left post which looked to have spared the world champions blushes But the Irish grew in confidence in the dying stages when Wes Hoolahan had his shot blocked before OShea had Irish eyes smilingAn overhit cross was looped back into the area and OShea beat Mats Hummels to the dropping ball to nudge past Germanys goalkeeper Manuel Neuer