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.
German coach Joachim Loew, his voice still hoarse from the flu, said his team was going home “with a very good feeling.”
Khedira’s header after the Uruguay defense 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. “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 chance. But Forlan, especially dangerous on free kicks, hit the bar.
“Obviously it’s something spectacular to be among the top four,” Forlan said. “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.
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 when he slid a shot past goalkeeper Hans Joerg Butt.
