KIMETZ THE BARBARIAN

Veteran striker Miroslav Klose saved Germany with a hat-trick to seal a late 3-3 draw against Finland in Wednesday night's World Cup 2010 qualifier. Euro 2008 finalists Germany were looking down the barrel of a defeat orchestrated by Finland's former Liverpool forward Daniel Sjolund who had earlier put his side 3-2 ahead early in the second-half.

But Klose, 30, used every bit of his experience on the day he won his 84th cap to complete his hat-trick in the 83rd minute to give Germany a valuable point in Group 4 in their quest to reach the next World Cup in South Africa.

The home side got off to a flying start when they took the lead after Malmo striker Jonatan Johansson capitalised on a mistake in the German defence and fired home on 32 minutes to the delight of the home crowd. Germany responded quickly when Klose held off a challenge from Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia and fired home just six minutes later.

Finland reclaimed the lead with half-time approaching when midfielder Mika Vayrynen scored a superb goal after converting a pin-point accurate cross from Sjolund. But just 90 seconds later, Klose struck again when he drove a bullet header at Finland goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and although the Bolton Wanderers man parried the shot, Klose followed up to make it 2-2 at half-time.

Klose makes it three in the dying minutes

After the break, Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke made a fine save but the home side took the lead for the third time as Sjolund was allowed a free header in the 53rd minute.

In an effort to get the third equalising goal, Löw threw on a third striker in Stuttgart's Mario Gomez and the move paid off. The home side had a lucky escape on 78 minutes when Klose looked to have scored his hat-trick with a header, only for Werder Bremen defender Petri Pasanen to clear the ball off the goal-line.

It was Gomez who created the pressure in defence for Klose to finally stab the ball home on 83 minutes and the Bayern Munich striker nearly grabbed a fourth with Germany threatening in the game's dying minutes.