Euro 2008 Qualifying Group D/Cyprus - 1 Germany - 1: Germany's European Championship qualifying campaign stalled as Joachim Loew's injury-hit side were held to a draw by Cyprus.
Michael Ballack, celebrating his 75th international appearance, put the visitors ahead in the 15th minute of the Group D match but there were few other clear chances for a Germany team missing a number of players.
Cyprus equalised just before half-time with a volley from Yiannakis Okkas, who squeezed his long-range shot past stand-in goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand.
Germany were missing regulars like goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, midfielder Tim Borowski and striker Lukas Podolski yet they soon took control and Ballack gave them the lead.
Torsten Frings and Bastian Schweinsteiger looked to have made a mess of a free kick but Ballack ran on to the misplaced pass, rounded one player and fired a shot inside the right-hand post.
It was a 35th goal for Germany for Ballack and looked likely to set the team on the way to a fourth win out of four in the group, and a sixth in six games under Loew, including friendlies.
But Cyprus struck when Efstathios Aloneftis crossed from the left for Okkas to blast in first time from the edge of the area two minutes before the break.
"We weren't precise enough and we weren't fully concentrated," said Loew. "But we can live with this result."
Germany survived a scare in the 50th minute when Clemens Fritz played a weak back-pass to Hildebrand and his hurried clearance struck Constantinos Charalmbides but Fritz got back in time to clear.
Germany gradually improved with Ballack and substitute striker Mike Hanke both going close before Schweinsteiger was just wide of the target with a late strike from point-blank range a minute from time.
CYPRUS: Georgallides, Elia, Lambrou, Louka, Theodotou (Kharalambous 79 mins), Makrides, Charalambidis, Michael (Krassas 69), Okkas (C Nikolaou 73), Aloneftis, Konstantinou. Subs: Morfis, Yiasoumis, Giorgos Nicolaou, Okkarides.
GERMANY: Hildebrand, Arne Friedrich, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Frings, Ballack, Fritz, Manuel Friedrich, Odonkor (Hitzlsperger 79 mins), Klose, Neuville (Hanke 62 mins). Subs: Enke, Mertesacker, Fathi, Freier, Schlaudraff.
Referee: Peter Frojdfeldt (Sweden).
