An inexperienced Germany came from a goal down to beat Romania 3-1 in their international friendly in Cologne on Wednesday night.
Dorian Nicolae Goian put the visitors in front after just three minutes before Bernd Schneider (42) and David Odonkor (65) turned the match around.
Former Cologne star Lukas Podolski then crowned his homecoming with a thunderous shot from 20 yards out eight minutes from time to put the issue beyond doubt.
Already without Michael Ballack, Torsten Frings and Tim Borowski, Joachim Low decided to rest the likes of Kevin Kuranyi, Miroslav Klose and Jens Lehmann and field a young team instead.
It took the side some time to feel their way into the match, and the visitors caught them napping after just three minutes when Adrian Mutu delivered a free-kick from the left wing.
Three Romanians were left unmarked in front of Timo Hildebrand's goal for Goian to easily volley the ball home from five yards out.
Thomas Hitzlsperger fired a first warning shot three minutes later but it were the Romanians who remained in control.
Hildebrand denied Ciprian Marica twice - first in the 12th and then again 10 minutes later when the striker was sent in the clear for a one-on-one, Hildebrand stood tall and Manuel Friedrich hacked the ball into safety.
Germany, who had two chances through Patrick Helmes and Marcell Jansen, almost equalised in the 26th minute.
Podolski was one of three Germans to beat the offside trap following a right-wing free-kick.
He rounded Danut Coman but the keeper's spectacular one-handed save denied the former Cologne star.
After Hildebrand parried a long-distance effort from Petre Marin, Germany eventually levelled the scores three minutes before half-time.
Bastian Schweinsteiger cleverly singled out skipper Schneider with a right-wing cross for the veteran to head the ball past Coman from a central position.
Podolski almost put his side in the lead just five minutes into the second period when Schneider's midfield ball set him up for a one-on-one with Coman, who stood tall against the Bayern Munich striker.
Romania almost restored their lead in the 65th minute when Marica cleverly pulled the ball back to Banal Nicolita following a run to the goal line, but Hildebrand had no problems saving his shot from ten yards out.
Only moments later, Odonkor intercepted a midfield pass and stormed towards the visitors' box.
Instead of passing to Podolski, the second-half substitute pulled the trigger and beat Coman with a shot to the near post.
Helmes wasted two more promising chances before some good work from Roberto Hilbert set up Podolski, who hammered home a 20-yard strike to please the Cologne crowd.
The result continued Germany's post World Cup success and also snapped Romania's 14-game unbeaten run.
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