Argentina have gone into extra-time level against Germany 1-1 in the first quarter-final of the World Cup in the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Friday after second-half goals from Roberto Ayala for Argentina and Miroslav Klose equalising for Germany.

The game started at a fair pace, but with hardly a clear-cut chance for either side, with the crowd beginning to get restless, even in the early stages.

Germany captain and Chelsea Ballack had a headed-chance from a cross from Bastian Schweinsteiger go just-wide in the 16th minute after Riquelme had a free-kick go close for Argentina, but both teams were finding it hard to get a breakthrough.

Argentina dominated possession as the half progressed, but with Germany still having had the best chance of the half from Michael Ballack’s attempt.

The game went into half-time with Argentina having the majority of possession, but with Germany defending very well to deny them any space for a clear chance at goal.

The second-half saw Argentina still in control of possession, with Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano having half-chances, but it was Riquelme who was the supplier of the opening goal early in the second-half.

His corner-kick was perfectly placed for Roberto Ayala to head the ball into the net between Jens Lehmann and defender Philip Lahm on the goal-line to make it 1-0.

Roberto Abbonzanzieri was injured early in the second-half after a foul by Miroslav Klose, and had to be replaced by Leonardo Franco in the 70th minute after trying hard to continue the match.

Germany started to get some decent possession, but couldn’t get the final shot in, with Argentina defending well.

Germany got their equaliser, after their first period of sustained pressure, in the 80th minute, from a free-kick from captain Michael Ballack.

His free-kick, from the left-wing, found the head of Tim Borowski, who flicked it on to the head of Germany’s top-scorer Miroslav Klose, who headed it across the Argentinean keeper to level the scores.

Both sides were pushing hard to score the vital winning goal in the remaining minutes, with both sides having used both their three substitutes.

Argentina were the side pushing harder, and almost took advantage of a slip in the German defence for Luis Gonzalez to head for goal, but despite Lehmann’s excellent save, Tevez was ruled offside.

The game went into extra-time with Germany definitely beginning to get a hold in the match, but with both sides facing a gruelling 30 minutes of extra-time, with penalties to face both teams if the game is still level after 120 minutes.

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