Bierhoff makes headway

Bierhoff8217;s strike partner Juergen Klinsmann pulled Germany back into the game with 15 minutes left when Mexican defender Raul Lara mis-controlled a Dietmar Hamann cross and the German captain stabbed the ball past Jorge Campos.

The goal by El Matador8217; Hernandez left the Germans in danger of suffering one of the most disappointing defeats in their World Cup history. They were knocked out of the 1994 finals in the quarter-finals by Bulgaria. Just two minutes into the second half, Hernandez dribbled his way through a trio of German defenders to blast the ball past 8216;keeper Andy Koepke.

Berti Vogts8217;s team, a veteran squadwith an average age of nearly 30, have struggled with their form in France.

Their defence certainly looked slugglish when Hernandez picked up a pass from Cuauhtemoc Blanco and weaved his way past Michael Tarnat and Christian Woerns before firing the ball past Koepke.

In the 61st minute the Mexicans should have scored a second when substitute Jesus Arellano broke away on his own down the right.

But Koepke managed to turn his shot onto his right-hand post and Hernandez hit the rebound tamely into Koepke8217;s arms.

The game, bogged down for much of the first half, burst into life in the final 10 minutes before the break. In the 38th minute German wing-back Michael Tarnat hit a fierce shot from outside the penalty area which Mexican 8216;keeper Jorge Campos did well to save, diving to his left in spectacular fashion to push the ball away one-handed.

Two minutes later German striker Bierhoff went desperately close to scoring when he hit the bar with a header with Campos stranded.

The Mexicans also had agood chance just before the interval when striker Francisco Palencia broke free on the left-hand side of the box but Koepke managed to stop his shot with his legs.