FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - Germany made the home fans happy on Wednesday, defeating Australia 4-2 in Group A on the first day of the Confederations Cup.
Michael Ballack scored the third goal in the 60th minute with a penalty, and Lukas Podolski netted the eventual match-winner in the 88th.
In the other Group A game, Argentina defeated Tunisia 2-1.
It was Germany's 12th game under Juergen Klinsmann. His only loss came in December, 3-1 at South Korea. Klinsmann, who has Germany playing a quick offensive game, will be under pressure to do well in this warmup tournament for next year's World Cup finals in Germany.
Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer kept his side in the game, particularly early in the second half before Ballack broke through.
Germany took a 1-0 lead in the 17th. After Australia had been applying pressure, Germany counterattacked with defender Arne Friedrich sending a long, low ball into the area that Kevin Kuranyi deflected behind Schwarzer.
Australia responded quickly. On a free kick from 20 meters (yards), Josip Skoko slipped the ball on the ground through a wall of defenders, beating Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn diving to his right in the 21st.
Two minutes later, there was another German goal as Per Mertesacker controled a bouncing ball off a corner, and volleyed home from close range.
In the 31st, Australia equalized again. John Aloisi came down the left, got in at a deep angle, and beat Kahn on a close-range, left-footed shot. Wednesday was Kahn's 36th birthday.
Germany opened quickly in the second half. After only four minutes, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Ballack both forced Schwarzer to make diving saves.
In the 54th, Schwarzer made another diving save on a 20-meter (yard) drive from Torsten Frings. In the 56th, Schwarzer scrambled to stop a close-in header from Kuranyi.
Germany went up 3-2 when Ballack converted a penalty in the 60th after Australia's Ljubo Milicevic was called for tripping Friedrich in the area.
Podolski scored 28 minutes later, beating Schwarzer from close range.
Australia made it 4-3 on a second-half injury time goal by Aloisi.
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Lineups:
Germany: Oliver Kahn, Arne Friedrich, Robert Huth, Bastian Schweinsteiger (Fabian Ernst, 81), Torsten Frings, Michael Ballack, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Per Mertesacker, Bernd Schneider (Sebastian Deisler, 75), Lukas Podolski, Kevin Kuranyi (Gerald Asamoah, 68).
Australia: Mark Schwarzer, Kevin Muscat, Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, Tony Popovic (Jon McKain, 57), Brett Emerton, Josip Skoko, Tim Cahill (Jason Culina, 74), Scott Chipperfield (Archie Thompson, 81), John Aloisi, Ljubo Milicevic.
