Germany's midfielder Torsten Frings (L) and Michael Ballack vies for the ball with Poland's Radoslaw Sobolewski during the second round match of World Cup 2006 Group A at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund, Germany, June 14, 2006. -Xinhua

Substitution striker Oliver Neuville's late goal gave Germany a highly rated 1-0 victory over Poland in Dortmund yesterday, almost ensuring a last 16 qualification for the hosts with two wins from as many World Cup matches in the round robin.

Neuville, who has impressed since he came on as a substitute in 71 minutes, lobbed in a David Odonkor's cross from the right on the first stoppage minute of the game with a first-time shot from five meters.

Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann said the introduction of Neuville and Odonkor finally turned the tide in their epic win.

"We wanted to bring more speed into the match and both (substitutes) are fast -- they brought some life to the match," said a relieved Klinsmann. "The whole team tried to put pressure on them the whole time. We worked hard and hoped the efforts would bear fruit."

Neuville himself contributed the goal partially to luck, however.

"Clearly, I was a bit lucky," he said. "But I think it was well earned. Now we want to win the next match against Ecuador and we'll be first in the group."

Before the decisive goal, the hosts twice hit the crossbar as Miroslav Klose headed a left cross from Philipp Lahm to kiss off the bar at 90 and Ballack followed up from close range and kicked off the bar again before Odonkor drove it offside.

With the victory, Germany, who trounced group rivals Costa Rica 4-2 in the World Cup opener on Friday, will reach the knockout phase unless Costa Rica beat Ecuador on Thursday.

The Poles, however, is sent packing after losing both of their group matches having played, beaten 2-0 by Ecuador on Friday.

Poland coach Pawel Janas mourned over the late goal which knocked his side out, that calling back a bad memory of their last time in the World Cup held by South Korea and Japan where they exit also from the first stage.

"The goal at the very end has ruined our chances. I feel awful," he said. "In the final minute we made mistakes by leaving the midfield empty and our defence had no chance."

Before Neuville's late scoring, the German side seemed almost for sure to settle for a goalless draw by the decided Polish team, which was cut to ten men after Radoslaw Sobolewski being sent off at 74 for a second bookable offence of bringing down Miroslav Klose.

Poland, playing the game with too much at stake that they didn't want to concede, learnt a lesson from Friday's 2-0 defeat to group rivals Ecuador at their tournament opening match, and returned to their traditional style on Wednesday, driving long and seeking opportunities in front to threaten on the break.

With the solid defense built up by the Poles, the hosts failed to turn any of their efforts into goal, while inspirational skipper Michael Ballack, just recovering from a calf strain to start, got hurt in a ball-controlling clash with Radoslaw Sobolewski at 28.

The Chelsea's new signing, who missed Germany's 4-2 victory over Costa Rica at Friday's World Cup opener, was later booked forbring down Poland's impressed striker Ireneusz Jelen on the 59th.

It's Germany who enjoyed the greater share of possession, and Poland, who set their side up to be difficult to beat, failed to come up with something special to score.

Polish-born striker Miroslav Klose wastes the first real chance of the Germans in 20 minutes as he headed wide from close range after a tantalizing left-wing cross.

Fifteen minutes later, Lukas Podolski, also born in Poland and came to Germany as a child, went close for Germany with an impressive piece of individual skill. He controlled the ball first time before spinning round and testing Artur Boruc with a powerful shot.

The best chance of the first half came on the first stoppage minute before break when a lovely stepover from Bastian Schweinsteiger played in Philipp Lahm down the left before he crossed to Lukas Podolski, who managed to contrive a shot from a tight angle but sent the ball wide of the far post.

Opening the second half, the Germans put even more on attack as coach Jurgen Klinsmann replaced defender Arne Friedrich with winger Odonkor in 64 minutes as the Borussia Dortmund player made an almost immediate impression and burst down the right wing to force a corner just two minutes after substitution.

Klose went desperately close to breaking the deadlock for Germany in 76 minutes, sending a glancing header inches wide of the far post.

And 4 minutes later, Lahm cut in from the left and curled a shot toward the far corner, then Neuville shot first time from five meters, but Artur Boruc made two superb saves in the best passage to keep his side in the match.