Shanghai  - Under-strength Germany were held to a 1-1 draw in a friendly football international in China on Friday.

Hao Junmin opened the scoring for the hosts in the fifth minute, with Germany responding two minutes later from Lukas Podolski for what turned out to be the final score in Shanghai.

While lively China threatened on several occasions for the winner, Germany's only other notable chance was a free-kick from Thomas Hitzlsperger on the hour.

Even though coach Joachim Loew missed 17 players led by captain Michael Ballack on an Asian tour which also features a match in Dubai on Tuesday, the outcome was a disappointment for the visitors and a boost for China in the first match under coach Gao Hongbo.(dpa)