A late Lukas Podolski strike from an Andre Schurrle cross saved Germany from back-to-back home defeats by Australia at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion in Kaiserslautern. Podolski rescued the World Cup champions nine minutes from time with his 48th goal for his country as he combined with his fellow substitute and former Premier League outcast. The Socceroos' last visit to Germany in 2011 ended in a 2-1 shock loss for the hosts in Monchengladbach and it looked to be going that way again for much of the second half when captain Mile Jedinak gave his side the lead with a sensational curling free-kick. Lukas Podolski celebrates scoring the 81st-minute equaliser for Germany against Australia . Podolski got on the end of a cross from fellow substitute Andre Schurrle to level things up . The German side appear relieved as they avoid a second home defeat by Australia in a row . Germany: Zieler, Mustafi, Howedes, Badstuber (Rudy 46mins), Bellarabi (Schurrle 64), Khedira (Kramer 63), Gundogan, Hector, Ozil, Reus (Kruse 73), Gotze (Podolski 73) Subs not used: Weidenfeller, Boateng, Hummels, Kroos, Schweinsteiger,  Muller, Schurrle . Goals: Reus 17, Podolski 81 . Australia: Ryan, Franjic, Wilkinson (Wright 78), Devere, Davidson, Jedinak, Milligan (Mooy 69), McKay (Bozanic 77), Burns (Oar 61), Leckie, Troisi (Juric 87) Subs not used: Federici,  Behich, Elrich,  Ikonomidis . Goals: Troisi 40, Jedinak 50 . Marco Reus gave Germany the lead in the 17th minute when he met the Sami Khedira cross zipped across the face of goal. James Troisi hit back for the recently crowned Asian Cup champions with a header from Nathan Burns' pinpoint cross. Then, five minutes into the second half, Crystal Palace stalwart and Socceroos captain nailed a perfect curling free-kick that left German keeper Ron-Robert Zieler flailing and in the back of his own net with the ball. History was on the visitors' side at this stadium. It was here that Australia made history with their first goal and first win in a World Cup when they beat Japan 3-1 in 2006. Their star striker Tim Cahill, who scored a double that night, was out injured here after being instrumental in delivering Australia's first major trophy win after beating South Korea in extra-time in January. Before kick-off, Real Madrid's Toni Kroos was given the 2014 Germany Player of the Year award but he wasn't required off the bench where at full time he had some star-studded company among the unused subs in Jerome Boateng, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Muller and Mats Hummels. Germany's Marco Reus finds the back of the net with his studs to give the hosts a 17th-minute lead . Reus gets on the end of a powerfully struck pass across goal from Sami Khedira to make it 1-0 . Germany's celebration is low key as they take the lead over Australia, the Asian Cup champions . The Socceroos' James Troisi gets in front of his man Jonas Hector to equalise for the visitors . Troisi makes a beeline for Nathan Burns, the man who provided the pinpoint cross from the left . The Australians celebrate as the underdogs peg one back against the World Cup champions . Crystal Palace's Mile Jedinak strikes a free-kick over the towering German wall for Australia's second . German keeper Ron-Robert Zieler, in for injured Manuel Neuer, joins the ball in the back of the net . The entire Aussie line-up chase Jedinak down to join the celebrations on the sideline as they take the lead . Toni Kroos receives the Germany Player of The Year 2014 award prior to kick-off . A Germany fans went with dyed eyelashes while a Socceroos supporter took an inflatable kangaroo along . The crowd, officials and Australia side join the Germans as they honour the 150 lives lost in the French Alps . The German teams observes a minute's silence before their match against Australia in a plane tragedy tribute . Germany's starting XI stand arm-in-arm wearing black armbands after the tragedy in the French Alps . A fan holds a sign reading 'R.I.P 4U9525', the number of the Germanwings flight from Barcelona to Dusseldorf . German defender Benedikt Howedes holds a sign saying 'Haltern mourn' in relation to the Germanwings crash .
Marco Reus gave Germany the lead inside 20 minutes . James Troisi equalised with a header from Nathan Burns' cross . Mile Jedinak's free-kick gave Australia the lead in the 50th minute . Lukas Podolksi brought it back level meeting ball from Andre Schurrle . A minute's silence before the match in tribute to Germanwings tragedy .