Ukraine and Germany shared six goals in a thrilling first competitive match at Kiev's Olympic Stadium.

Andrei Iarmolenko scored the first goal in the new arena in the 28th minute and Evgen Konoplyanka doubled their lead eight minutes later with a stunning solo effort.

Toni Kroos brought Germany back into the game two minutes later, but Sergei Nazarenko restored the home side's deserved two-goal advantage on the stroke of half time.

Simon Rolfes and Thomas Muller were both on target in the second half as

Germany only just salvaged a draw.

The hosts took the lead with a quick counter-attack culminating in Iarmolenko

slotting into the far corner as Mesut Ozil looked on and goalkeeper Ron-Robert

Zieler tried but failed to scramble back and prevent the ball from crossing the

line.

The atmosphere inside Kiev's Olympic Stadium appeared to make a contribution to

the Ukraine's second goal eight minutes later.

It came from another counter-attack, this time with Mats Hummels losing the

ball in the Ukraine penalty area, where the ball broke to Konoplyanka.

The crowd urged him forwards and he managed to find a higher gear to race all

of 70 yards from one end to the other before rounding Zieler and slotting the

ball into the unguarded net.

Kroos reduced the arrears immediately with a 25-yard shot into the left-hand

corner to silence the fans who were still celebrating the Ukraine's second

goal.

Germany almost levelled on the stroke of half time when Sami Khedira's

speculative header looped over Oleksandr Rybka and struck the post.

The ball bounced back onto the Ukraine goalkeeper's foot and rebounded towards

the goal, but he managed to pounce on it right on the goal line.

Ukraine then raced to the other end again to score a third, with Nazarenko

bettering Kroos' goal with a fine strike into the top corner from more than 25

yards out.

It completed a nightmare first half for Zieler on his Germany debut, although

in truth, there was little he could have done to stop the third goal.

Zieler improved in the second half and denied Andriy Shevchenko with an

excellent save in the 49th minute.

Rolfes brought Germany back into the match three minutes later when he lifted

Hummels' pass into the roof of the net from point-blank range and Muller

equalised in the 77th minute.

He cut in from the left and shot from the edge of the area.

The attempt did not look to be unstoppable but Muller seemed as surprised as

anybody that the goalkeeper did not make a save.