Football: Substitute earns Germany draw

A SECOND-HALF goal from the substitute Olaf Marschall gave Germany a fortunate 1-1 draw with the Netherlands in a friendly international at Gelsenkirchen last night.

The home side, under pressure for most of the match, fell behind in the 22nd minute when the Barcelona wing-back Michael Reiziger beat goalkeeper Oliver Kahn with a powerful shot from 20 metres after running from the half-way line unchallenged. Against the run of play Germany equalised in the 52nd minute when Marschall, fed by the libero Lothar Matthaus, struck from close range.

The Dutch wasted several chances and were unlucky when a header by the Manchester United central defender Jaap Stam was cleared off the line by Jens Jeremies. Then, a minute from time, the debutant striker Ruud van Nistelrooij was deprived a goal by a brilliant save from Kahn.

Filippo Inzaghi scored his first two goals for Italy, but a late penalty earned Spain a 2-2 draw in a friendly match between experimental sides in Salerno.

Italy went ahead in the 14th minute, when Inzaghi chested down a precise pass from his fellow forward, Francesco Totti, moved between two defenders, and hit a rising shot into the roof of the net from 10 yards.

Francisco de Pedro brought Spain level in the 33rd minute, when he was left unmarked and headed Michel Salgado's cross inside the near post.

Inzaghi made it 2-1 in the 74th minute when, with his back to goal, he collected a pass from the midfielder Damiano Tommasi, turned and fired a left-footed shot into the net.

Glad to have scored international goals at last, Inzaghi wanted to mark the occasion with a victory but the Italian centre-back, Fabio Cannavaro, uncharacteristically scythed down Spain's second-half substitute Juan Sanchez as he headed for goal eight minutes from time. Raul sent goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi the wrong way from the spot.

Luxembourg, one of England's qualifying rivals for Euro 2000, held a revamped Belgium to a goalless draw.

In another friendly match, in Cairo, Chelsea's Tore Andre Flo headed a second-half equaliser for Norway in a 1-1 draw against Egypt. The African champions attacked throughout the first half with Hossam Hassan putting them ahead five minutes before the interval.