Late flourish cheers Poland
Saturday, 9 October 2004
[1] Goals from Radoslaw Kaluzny, Jacek Krzynówek and Tomasz Frankowski earned Poland a valuable three points in the Ernst Happel stadium. After a frantic opening half, two late goals secured the win despite the visitors having to play the final minutes with just ten men.
Surprise selection
[2] Austria coach Hans Krankl sprung a surprise by dropping in-form striker Roland Kollmann, instead opting for the experienced Ivica Vastic. Meanwhile, injury-riddled Poland made a total of seven changes to the team which were beaten 2-1 by England a month ago.
High tempo
[3] The game began at a high tempo which was to continue throughout the first period. Just five minutes in Austria went close after a Andreas Ivanschitz free-kick was met by Vastic and turned on to the post by goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek.
Kaluzny joy
[4] However, just five minutes later it was Poland who were celebrating. It came from another set-piece, as Tomasz Rzasa saw his glancing header from Maciej Zurawski's free-kick saved down low by Alex Manninger but the goalkeeper was helpless as Kaluzny turned in the loose ball from close range.
Deserved equaliser
[5] After going behind Austria stepped up their game and were denied on 19 minutes when Dudek pulled off a miraculous save from point-blank range from an Ivanschitz header. However, the pressure told as Schopp broke through 16 minutes before the interval. A cross-field pass from René Aufhauser found Schopp in space and, cutting in from the right wing, he ghosted inside Rzasa before firing under Dudek for a deserved equaliser.
Krzynówek cracker
[6] After a hectic first half, the second started in far more pedestrian fashion as both teams struggled to get a stranglehold on the game. Chances were few and far between and it was no surprise when it was a set-piece that led to Poland retaking the lead. With 78 minutes gone, Bayer 04 Leverkusen midfielder Krzynówek blasted in from just outside the area.
Radomski sees red
[7] A frantic finale ensued as Austria pressed with Markus Kiesenebner twice going close from long range before their chances were increased further when Arkadiusz Radomski saw red for a second bookable offence. But it was not to be for the home side as Poland scored a third on the break. Finding himself free, Frankowski, in his first international appearance for four years, found the net at the second attempt.
British trips
[8] Poland, who leapfrog Austria in the Group 6 standings, next go to Wales on Wednesday. On the same night the Austrians visit Northern Ireland.