A bit better than kick in teeth

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This article was published 11/07/2010 (5931 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa — In pouring rain on a ragged field, Germany and Uruguay staged a match entertaining enough to be for the World Cup title.

Too bad it was only for third place.

Sami Khedira scored in the 82nd minute to give Germany a 3-2 victory and third place for the second straight World Cup. But the Germans had to survive a final-second free kick by Uruguay star striker Diego Forlan from just outside the penalty area. It ricocheted off the crossbar, and the whistle sounded.

Rain-soaked players shook hands and awaited a medals ceremony that was not nearly what they wanted. The Netherlands and Spain will play for the championship toay in Johannesburg.

Germany coach Joachim Loew, his voice still hoarse from the flu, said his team was going home “with a very good feeling.”

“We achieved more than we perhaps expected,” Loew said.

Khedira’s header after the Uruguay defence failed to clear a corner kick by Mesut Oezil ended Uruguay’s hopes of beating Germany for the first time in 82 years.

“We had hoped for more, and we did everything for it,” Khedira said. “This was some kind of final and we did everything for it.

“We have a young team and set an exclamation mark here and can reach more.”

Uruguay came from behind to lead 2-1 when Forlan brilliantly volleyed in Egidio Arevalo’s 51st-minute cross for his fifth goal of the tournament.

Germany defender Marcell Jansen tied it five minutes later with a header after goalkeeper Fernando Muslera misjudged a cross.

In the dying moments, on a rain soaked pitch, Uruguay had one more opportunity. But Forlan, who has been especially dangerous on free kicks, hit the bar.

“Obviously it’s something spectacular to be among the top four,” said Forlan. “If someone would’ve asked us at the beginning, we would’ve liked it. It’s something positive.”

Uruguay has beaten Germany only once in 10 matches, in 1928. Germany beat Uruguay in the third-place match in 1970, the last time Uruguay reached the semifinals.

In its last three World Cup tournaments, Germany was runner-up in 2002 and third in 2006 at home.

“Luckily, we won, because the disappointment over the semifinal was still there,” Bastian Schweinsteiger said. “

Thomas Mueller opened the scoring for Germany in the 18th minute, also his fifth goal at the World Cup. Edinson Cavani equalized for Uruguay in the 28th.

— The Associated Press