Khedira kills off Uruguay resistance

Three-time FIFA World Cup winners Germany came from behind to prevail 3-2 against Uruguay in the third place play-off in Port Elizabeth.

Joachim Löw's side initially took the lead in the battle of the beaten semi-finalists but Thomas Müller's close-range strike was swiftly cancelled out by Edinson Cavani. Diego Forlán's superb volley put Uruguay in the ascendancy and drew him level on five goals with Müller, David Villa and Wesley Sneijder in the race to be top scorer, but Marcell Jansen equalised before Sami Khedira finally decided matters with an 82nd-minute header.

Germany had swiftly made up for their lack of possession against Spain and almost went ahead just ten minutes in, Arne Friedrich heading Mesut Özil's corner against the bar. They did go in front nine minutes later, though, when Fernando Muslera parried Bastian Schweinsteiger's long-range shot, Müller stroking in the rebound.

Uruguay looked bereft of inspiration before sparking into life on 28 minutes when Schweinsteiger was uncharacteristically dispossessed. The ball found its way to Luis Suárez and the AFC Ajax striker laid on a perfectly weighted pass which Cavani consummately slipped past Jörg Butt. Suárez himself was less precise either side of half-time, firstly snatching at his shot when through on goal before then being denied by Butt. His strike partner, Forlán, was far more clinical on 51 minutes, showing exquisite technique to volley in Egidio Arévalo's cross from the edge of the penalty area.

Parity was soon restored again, however, Jansen heading in at the back post from an inviting Jérôme Boateng cross from the right. Butt again kept out Suárez soon after and it was a stop that proved decisive because, with eight minutes left, Uruguay failed to deal with a corner and the ball popped up to Khedira, who adroitly sent a header looping over Muslera. Forlán so nearly had the final word but hit the bar from a free-kick which proved to be the last act of a pulsating match.