Germany 1 - 2 England: Terry atones for blunder as England sink Germany

CAPTAIN John Terry atoned for a costly error to earn England's makeshift team a deserved victory against Germany in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

The Chelsea defender headed home an 84th-minute free-kick from Stewart Downing to make amends for his mix-up with goalkeeper Scott Carson which had gifted Patrick Helmes an equaliser early in the second half.

Matthew Upson had scored his first goal for England to give Fabio Capello's side a half-time lead and they looked assured and composed despite fielding only three first-choice players.

England made a positive start and Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, making his England debut, quickly played in Jermain Defoe with a clear run at the German goal. The Portsmouth striker saw his shot blocked by the feet of Rene Adler, but was ruled offside in any case.

Capello's side did most of the early pressing even though Terry, Gareth Barry and David James were the only first-choice players in the side, and Agbonlahor got to the byline but saw his low cross cut out by Per Mertesacker.

Germany threatened for the first time when Poitr Trochowski whipped in a dangerous low centre which James was unable to cling on to, but managed to parry clear of the danger area.

Agbonlahor was not looking overawed on his debut and was not afraid to barge Adler out of the way when attempting to reach a reverse pass from Downing, although he was adjudged to have fouled the German keeper.

There was a hunger about England's play that was unsurprising given the opportunity for the fringe players on display to stake a claim for a place in the World Cup qualifiers.

Germany started to knock the ball around in more confident fashion although neither side was looking particularly threatening in front of goal.

England then enjoyed their own spell of pressure which culminated in Upson putting them ahead after 24 minutes.

Shaun Wright-Phillips had a shot deflected wide and, then from his resulting corner, Upson had a header deflected behind.

This time Downing curled in the corner which Adler failed to reach and, after Agbonlahor had been unable to make a clean contact, Upson was on hand to poke the ball over the line from close range. It was the first goal for his country by the West Ham defender in what was his 12th appearance.

Germany retaliated and forced two corners in quick succession but they did not trouble the England back four.

Wright-Phillips became the first player to be yellow-carded after 29 minutes for a challenge on Jermaine Jones.

Trochowski's resulting free-kick picked out Miroslav Klose but his header was just too high. James was then relieved to see a flashing header from Heiko Westermann go just past the post from a Bastian Schweinsteiger free-kick.

England looked assured and well organised and Mertesacker did well to cut out a dangerous low centre from Wright-Phillips with Defoe waiting to pounce behind him.

Capello made a double half-time switch, bringing on West Brom goalkeeper Carson and Tottenham striker Darren Bent in place of James and Defoe. It was Carson's first cap since his ill-fated blunder in the Euro 2008 qualifier with Croatia at Wembley 12 months ago.

The home side made three switches with Tim Wiese, Marko Marin and Patrick Helmes replacing Adler, Jones and Klose respectively.

There was a quiet start to the half but England looked assured and composed. Downing found himself in plenty of space 25 yards out to line up a shot and would have been disappointed to drag his effort several yards wide of the far post.

Bent should have made it 2-0 when he took advantage of some hesitancy by the Germans, slipped the ball wide of Wiese but then screwed his shot wide.

It proved costly as a mix-up between Terry and Carson handed a gift equaliser to Helmes after 63 minutes.

Terry tried to shepherd the ball back to Carson, despite the close attention of Helmes, but the German player nipped in ahead of Carson and poked the ball past him before rolling it into an empty net.

England tried to retaliate and Agbonlahor found himself with a clear run at goal on the right but drilled his shot into the side netting.

Marin was not afraid to shoot with Upson blocking one drive and then Carson parrying another from the same player.

Wright-Phillips came close to restoring England's lead when his powerful shot was turned onto the post by Wiese.

With six minutes left Terry made amends for his earlier error when he headed in a curling free-kick from Downing for the winner.

Germany: Adler (Wiese 46), Friedrich (Tasci 68), Mertesacker, Westermann, Compper (Schafer 77), Schweinsteiger, Rolfes, Jones (Marin 46), Trochowski, Gomez (Podolski 57), Klose (Helmes 46). Subs not used: Hinkel, Hitzlsperger, Weis.

England: James (Carson 46), Johnson, Terry, Upson, Bridge, Wright-Phillips (Crouch 90), Carrick, Barry, Downing, Defoe (Bent 46), Agbonlahor (Young 77). Subs not used: Robinson, Lescott, Richards, Mancienne, Davies, Parker, Bullard. Booked: Wright-Phillips.