FRIENDLY INTERNATIONALS:AN injury-time goal from Lukas Podolski rescued a 2-2 friendly draw for Germany against Ivory Coast last night.

Germany took an 11th-minute lead when Guy Demel brought down Stefan Kiessling and Podolski sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.

The Ivorians equalised in bizarre fashion. Half-time substitute keeper Manuel Neuer attempted to clear a back pass but the ball bounced off Emmanuel Eboue and dribbled into the net.

Seydou Doumbia put the visitors in front after 85 minutes with a blistering drive before Podolskis late strike.

Irrepressible Spain thumped Austria 5-1 in a friendly to celebrate in style their return to the stadium where they won Euro 2008.

Austria, who failed to qualify for the World Cup and had Yasin Pehlivan sent off in the first half, took a shock lead through Jakob Jantscher after eight minutes but Cesc Fabregas levelled two minutes later.

David Villa then struck twice before half-time and substitutes Dani Guiza and Pablo Hernandez completed the rout early in the second half. It was Spain’s third five-goal haul in six outings.

Giorgio Chiellini headed an experimental Italy side to a 1-0 win over Sweden in a friendly in the northern city of Cesena.

The Juventus centre back charged in to score the winner for the world champions in the 28th minute after Giampaolo Pazzini nodded on a corner from the right.

Sweden, without Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their first game under new coach Erik Hamren, had made a bright start and Italy goalkeeper Federico Marchetti twice showed sharp reflexes.

The hosts then came forward at pace and created several chances. Chiellini had a header deflected off target by Andreas Isaksson’s chest before he found the net and he also forced a fine save just before half-time.

Palermo defender Mattia Cassani came on to make his debut for the Azzurri at the start of the second half, which was largely uneventful.

A solid performance from Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar ensured their friendly meeting with the Netherlands in Heerenveen ended in a lacklustre goalless draw.

Neither side were at their best in a match woefully short of attacking flair, but the Dutch may have edged the contest had Villar not kept out a handful of decent efforts from the hosts.

The last of those, from substitute Klaas Jan Huntelaar, came in injury-time while there were also two good stops from Rafael van der Vaart.