SOCCER/Germany 2 Argentina 2: Hernan Crespo struck with a penalty and a spectacular late chip to earn Argentina a draw with Germany in a friendly international in Dusseldorf.

The 2006 World Cup hosts took the lead in the 28th minute with a Torsten Frings penalty before Crespo levelled with a second spot-kick five minutes before the break.

Germany went back in front through a Kevin Kuranyi goal on the stroke of half-time and were on course for their first victory over top class opposition in over four years before Crespo struck again.

The AC Milan striker, recalled by Jose Pekerman, took the ball in from the left and beat Jens Lehmann with a perfectly flighted shot.

Germany, whose last win against one of the game's front-rank teams was against England in 2000, are automatically qualified for the World Cup and must make do with a diet of friendlies as preparation.

Juergen Klinsmann had urged his players to use the visit of Argentina to prove they could beat a side he described as the best in the world.

Despite the absence of captain Michael Ballack, they dominated for much of the game, with Frings the key figure in midfield in the absence of his Bayern Munich colleague.

Pekerman, using the match as a warm-up for World Cup qualifiers away to Bolivia and at home to Colombia at the end of March, opted for Juan Roman Riquelme as his playmaker, with Javier Saviola joining Crespo up front. Argentina were hardly going all out for an equaliser but it unexpectedly came via Crespo's brilliance.

GERMANY: Lehmann; Owomoyela, Mertesacker, Woerns, Hitzlsperger; Schneider, Frings, Ernst, Schweinsteiger (Schulz 74); Kuranyi, Asamoah (Freier 29).

ARGENTINA: Abbondanzieri; Zanetti, Burdisso, Milito (Cambiasso 46), Heinze; Scaloni (Rodriguez 46), Riquelme, Duscher (Galletti 77), Sorin; Saviola, Crespo.

Referee: SFarina (Italy)