A dramatic stoppage-time goal by substitute Oliver Neuville lifted Germany to their second Group A win as they beat Poland 1-0 in Dortmund.

The ten-man Poles appeared to have done enough to earn a hard-earned point until another German substitute, David Odonkor, got to the byline and lofted in a cross that Neuville steered home.

It was no more than Jurgen Klinsmann's side deserved as only 60 seconds earlier they had twice hit the woodwork - Miroslav Klose drifting a header on to the bar and then Michael Ballack firing the rebound from three yards out back on to the woodwork.

Poland's World Cup hopes are now hanging by a thread after their second successive defeat and they could be the first team to bow out of the tournament if the result of Thursday's Ecuador against Costa Rica game goes against them.

Poland goalkeeper Artur Boruc made a string of fine saves to deny Germany - the first in the tenth minute when he kept Klose's effort out.

Klose then wasted a glorious opportunity to give the hosts the lead in the 21st minute when he contrived to head wide with only Boruc to beat.

Pawel Janas' side looked composed in the opening half-hour but the pressure began to grow just before the interval.

In the 36th minute Philipp Lahm set up Lukas Podolski who turned sharply and drove in a snap-shot that Boruc did well to keep out before, on the stroke of half-time, Podolski somehow prodded the ball wide from five yards out as a scrambling Boruc tried to narrow the angle.

Germany started the second half strongly and an unmarked Klose missed the ball in the 52nd minute when a glancing header would surely have seen him open the scoring.

A great save by Boruc kept out Klose's rasping drive in the 64th minute but Poland's cause was not helped when Radoslaw Sobolewski was sent off after pulling Klose back - the Pole's second bookable offence.

Poland got everyone behind the ball in the closing stages but when Boruc saved Lahm's 80th minute effort it looked as though Poland would hang on for a point - until Neuville's last-gasp intervention.