A magical free kick goal by Toni Kroos in stoppage time completed 10-man Germany's spirited fightback to keep the world champions in the running to defend their World Cup title with a 2-1 victory over Sweden on Saturday in Sochi, according to dpa. Ola Toivonen shocked Germany with the opening goal in the 32nd minute before Germany equalized in the 48th minute through Marco Reus. Germany went a man down in the 82nd minute as centre back Jerome Boateng was booked a second time. But Kroos still came up with the game-winner five minutes into stoppage time. "What can I say? We didn't use the chances we had when we controlled the game ... But in the end we deserved to win," Kroos said. Germany and Sweden are both even on three points in Group F behind Mexico with six points and ahead of South Korea with zero points. That means the decision will come on Wednesday when Sweden face Mexico in Yekaterinburg and Germany play South Korea in Kazan. Germany threaten to become the fifth holders in the last six World Cups to be bounced in the group stage of the following World Cup - after France in 2002, Brazil in 2006, Italy in 2010 and Spain in 2014. Germany coach Joachim Loew responded to the team's opening loss to Mexico by making four changes to his starting line-up. Jonas Hector recovered from flu to replace Marvin Plattenhardt at left-back and Antonio Ruediger played for the injured Mats Hummels. In addition, midfielders Mesut Oezil and Sami Khedira were dropped for Marco Reus and Sebastian Rudy, respectively. It was the first time that Oezil was not in the starting line-up of a Euro or World Cup match since his first cap in 2009 - a streak of 26 matches. Sweden coach Janne Andersson swapped just one player with Manchester United's Victor Lindelof coming back from illness to replace Pontus Jansson. Germany attacked straight away and threatened Robin Olsen's goal in just the second minute though Julian Draxler and Timo Werner were both unable to strike from close range. Sweden nearly took the lead in the 12th minute as Ruediger lost an easy ball and it was immediately sent forward to Marcus Berg, who had a long run of trying to fend off Jerome Boateng before watching Germany keeper Manuel Neuer do a good job stopping his attempt. Iklay Guendogan came on for Rudy in the 31st minute after the Bayern Munich midfielder was hit in the face by Toivonen's boot. Germany committed another poor error in the 32nd minute - this time the four-time Champions League winner Kroos, whose lazy pass was snatched up and immediately passed forward with Viktor Claesson finding Toivonen, who chested down the ball and then looped it over Neuer for a 1-0 lead. Berg nearly doubled the lead two minutes into first half stoppage time but Neuer was just barely able to fend away his header. Germany came up with the answer they needed right after the break, equalizing 1-1 in the 48th minute. Werner's pass from the left side was deflected by half-time substitute Mario Gomez to Reus, who struck home with his knee. Olsen was forced to make a fine save against Hector in the 56th and Werner's shot went just over the bar in the 80th. Germany were forced to play the final eight minutes a man down as Boateng was booked a second time. Gomez tried all he could in the 88th minute but Olsen made another spectacular save. And Julian Brandt hammered a long blast off the left post two minutes into stoppage time. Kroos made up for his earlier mistake with the game winner five minutes into stoppage time with a free kick goal from the left side, curling in a strike just inside the far right post.
