Germany will face Samoa in a two-legged playoff for a spot at next year's Rugby World Cup in Japan after beating Portugal on Sunday morning (NZ time).
The Germans trailed 13-3 points during the math, but a late penalty goal from Raynor Parkinson secured a 16-13 win for his country who are now 160 minutes away from a place at Rugby World Cup 2019.
Parkinson kicked a perfect four-from-four in the match while his opposite Louis Rodrigues missed three penalties.
It is a massive opportunity for German rugby after a poor display during the Rugby Europe Championship earlier in the year.
Germany finished last in the tournament, but because Romania, Spain, and Belgium were deducted points by World Rugby for fielding ineligible players, the Germans advanced to the next round.
Germany will travel to Apia on June 30 and host the return leg on July 14, with the winner going on to complete Pool A, facing Japan, Ireland, Russia and Scotland.
The loser will enter a repechage along with Canada, Africa 2 and either the Cook Islands or Hong Kong. That four-team competition takes place in France in November, with the winner going into Pool B, including New Zealand, South Africa, Italy and Africa 1.
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