LEIPZIG, Germany, June 29 (Reuters) - Captain Michael

Ballack scored with a blistering free kick in extra time to lead

10-man Germany to a 4-3 win over Mexico and claim third place in

the Confederations Cup on Wednesday.

Ballack's shot from just outside the box curled over the

wall and beyond Mexican goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez seven minutes

into extra time, giving Germany victory after Mexico had

equalised three times in the opening 90 minutes.

Lukas Podolski, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Robert Huth also

scored for Germany. Jared Borgetti scored with two headers and

Jose Fonseca got the other for Mexico, who were playing extra

time for the second time in four days.

Third place gave Germany, who lost striker Mike Hanke to a

red card nine minutes into the second half, some consolation

after losing 3-2 in the semi-finals to world champions and

eventual tournament winners Brazil.

Brazil beat Argentina 4-1 in the final later on Wednesday.

'The way the crowd carried the team after Hanke was sent off

was just sensational,' said Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann.

'You could see the way everyone was going all out for each

other with every ounce of energy. Mexico are number six in the

world and we had a lot of respect for them.'

Germany, who will be hosting next year's World Cup, got off

to a slow start but improved after Hanke hit the crossbar midway

through the half.

GERMANY STRIKE

Sebastian Deisler in midfield and right back Andreas Hinkel

repeatedly tore through the left side of Mexico's defence before

Podolski broke the deadlock in the 37th minute.

Teed up by Schweinsteiger, the 20-year-old's superb shot

from the left flew into the far corner of the net, beyond the

reach of a diving Sanchez.

Mexico levelled just three minutes later after Torsten

Frings carelessly lost the ball in midfield to Zinha, who set up

Fonseca for a low shot past keeper Oliver Kahn.

Schweinsteiger restored Germany's lead within a minute,

tapping in at the far post after a cross from Hinkel, only for

his team to go a man down after the break.

Hanke was red-carded for clattering into Carlos Salcido

after the defender had cleared the ball and Mexico soon

equalised -- Borgetti beating centre back Per Mertesacker to a

cross from Luis Perez.

Despite the setbacks, Huth blasted home Germany's third from

close range off a corner from Schweinsteiger in the 79th minute.

Germany's defence was caught napping again five minutes from

time when Borgetti headed Mexico's third, but Ballack's

sweetly-struck free kick in extra time sealed the victory for

the host nation.

Ballack, who grew up in a small town just south of Leipzig,

was named Man of the Match.

'This was a great win and should give us an important boost

for the months ahead,' said Ballack.