Cameroon 0-2 Germany
Substitute Marco Bode made sure of Germany's passage into the second round - after the former champions had teetered on the brink of disaster in an ill-disciplined match.
Germany played the majority of the match with 10 men after Carsten Ramelow was sent off in the first half and the match was marred by a record 16 yellow cards.
The three-times champions were fortunate not to concede a goal before Bode slotted home four minutes into the second half to the visible relief of coach Rudi Voeller.
Klose doubled the lead 10 minutes from the final whistle with his fifth goal of the tournament, after which Cameroon's discipline deserted them and substitute Patrick Suffo received two yellow cards in quick succession.
The win meant Germany finished top of Group E ahead of the Republic of Ireland and ended Cameroon's slim hopes of qualifying for the second round.
It was a far from convincing display from the team who had started the tournament with an 8-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia.
After beginning the match the brighter, Germany's nerves became increasingly frayed as the African champions looked to take advantage of a series of defensive errors.
Salomon Alembe had the first clear sight of goal, taking advantage of a woeful attempt at an offside trap and finding himself in a one-on-one with Oliver Kahn.
Though the goalkeeper stood his ground and saved the shot, the danger was far from over for Germany.
Moments later, Pierre Wome launched himself at a loose ball and from Kahn's punch, Thomas Linke almost put the ball into his own net.
40 mins: Carsten Ramelow is sent off after two bookings
50 mins: Marco Bode gives Germany the lead with a cool finish
76 mins: Cameroon substitute Patrick Suffo sent off after two bookings
79 mins: Miroslav Klose doubles Germany's lead
From the ensuing corner, Geremi returned the ball and captain Rigobert Song was guilty of a glaring miss, putting a clear header wide after another mistake in the German defence.
That was the cue for Germany to lose their discipline, Michael Ballack quickly following Dietmaar Hamann into the referee's book.
And after a flurry of reckless challenges by Germany, Ramelow's dismissal came as little surprise, the Leverkusen defender receiving a second yellow for a cynical trip on the sprightly Samuel Eto'o.
Voeller would have been more than relieved to hear the half-time whistle and he took the opportunity to introduce Bode into the attack, replacing the ineffectual Carsten Jancker.
And four minutes later, Bode repaid his coach's faith, the 32-year-old sprinting onto a Klose through-ball and calmly slotting the ball past Boukar Alioum.
The goal calmed Germany's nerves and had the opposite effect on Cameroon, who still could not take advantage of their numerical advantage.
As the minutes ticked by, they became increasingly desperate and the game was marred by a series of stoppages as referee Antonio Lopez Nieto broke the record for the number of bookings in one World Cup match.
And after Suffo's swift departure, Michael Ballack glided down the right flank and Klose was on hand to head home his cross.
Cameroon: Boukar Alioum, Bill Tchato (Patrick Suffo 53), Raymond Kalla, Rigobert Song, Pierre Wome, Geremi, Salomon Olembe (Daniel Kome 64), Marc-Vivien Foe, Lauren, Patrick Mboma (Joseph-Desire Job 82), Samuel Eto'o.
Subs Not Used: Nicolas Alnoudji, Eric Djemba Djemba, Joel Epalle, Idriss Kameni, Lucien Mettomo, Pius Nniefi, Joseph Ndo, Pierre Njanka, Jacques Songo'o.
Sent Off: Suffo (77).
Booked: Foe, Song, Tchato, Geremi, Olembe, Suffo, Lauren.
Germany: Oliver Kahn, Thomas Linke, Carsten Ramelow, Christoph Metzelder, Torsten Frings, Bernd Schneider (Jens Jeremies 80), Dietmar Hamann, Michael Ballack, Christian Ziege, Miroslav Klose (Oliver Neuville 84), Carsten Jancker (Marco Bode 46).
Subs Not Used: Gerald Asamoah, Frank Baumann, Oliver Bierhoff, Jorg Bohme, Hans-Jorg Butt, Sebastian Kehl, Jens Lehmann, Marko Rehmer, Lars Ricken.
Sent Off: Ramelow (40).
Booked: Jancker, Hamann, Ballack, Ramelow, Kahn, Ziege, Frings.
Goals: Bode 50, Klose 79.
Referee: Antonio Lopez Nieto (Spain).
| MATCH STATS|
| || Cameroon || Germany|
|Corners (1st half) || 4 || 4|
|Corners (2nd half) || 0 || 1|
|Fouls committed || 23 || 26|
|Caught offside || 4 || 0|
|Shots on target || 3 || 4|
|Shots off target || 2 || 0|
|Hit woodwork (back into play) || 1 || 0|
|Yellow cards || 7 || 6|
|Red cards || 1 || 1|
|STOPPAGE TIME || |
|First half - 2 mins || Second half - 2 mins |