Poland signed off from their disappointing World Cup campaign with a 2-1 win over Costa Rica. The North American’s also heading home after this game will be a little bit disappointed with the performance they have put in over the three games registering no points and just three goals.
The Poles victory owed as much to poor play from their opponents as Bartosz Bosacki netted two goals for his country, Ronald Gomez putting Costa Rica into the lead midway through the first half.
After poor performances in their first two games both sides looked to bring some pride back to their campaigns. Costa Rica started with a similar side to the one which was trounced by Ecuador in game two, Wanchope began up front looking to add to his goals tally already in the competition and started along side Ricardo Gomez.
Poland, who held out for almost ninety minutes against Germany looked to bring a more attacking flavour to their final game in the 2006 competition after being expected to qualify along side Germany. Zurawski, their outstanding player so far continued in midfield whilst Smolarek game in for Rasiak up front.
The game started un inspiringly with neither side able to provide any chance of noteworthyness in the early stages. Gomez was the first to force a chance on goal but his looping header was well wide of Boric’s goal. Poland’s first attempt was also way wood as Zurawski attempted to test the keeper with a free kick but was three of four yards too high with his shot towards goal.
A goal did come however despite the poor start to the game, when Wanchope won a free kick on the edge of the area. A large wall seemingly blocking the keepers view only appeared to aid the kicker Gomez who smashed his free kick through the cluster of players beating Boric between his legs for the opening goal of the game.
On closer inspection it was a great piece of play by the Costa Ricans who had made some space for the player to fire the shot into an unguarded section of net.
Poland, undeterred by their defecit struck back moments later as a corner struck in was completely missed by the goalkeeper before being struck into the net via Bosacki’s outstretched leg. Beating a defending on the line the player who was un marked level the game at 1-1 and game Poland momentum going into the break.
However it was their opponents who were able to take advantage of the speedy pace of the game and almost found the net through a deflected shot from Gomez.
The second half started brighter than the first and two minutes in Jelen was given acres of space on the edge of the area to try a shot. Unfortunately his balance was off and he was able to hit nothing more than the advertising boards when he really should have done better.
Costa Rica continued to make chances in the game and on the hour mark they were unlucky not to take the lead as Wanchope leaped highest to get his head on a cross which flashed just wide of the goal. As both sides kept pressing for that vital goal, the game became more stretched and more strune with errors.
Indeed it was an error which led to the second and winning goal for Poland as Bosacki bagged his second of the game from a set piece. Allowed to run by his man to the back post he header in beating the keeper at his near post to give Poland three points and to send Costa Rica home as the first team to lose all three games.
After poor performances in their first two games both sides looked to bring some pride back to their campaigns. Costa Rica started with a similar side to the one which was trounced by Ecuador in game two, Wanchope began up front looking to add to his goals tally already in the competition and started along side Ricardo Gomez.
Poland, who held out for almost ninety minutes against Germany looked to bring a more attacking flavour to their final game in the 2006 competition after being expected to qualify along side Germany. Zurawski, their outstanding player so far continued in midfield whilst Smolarek game in for Rasiak up front.
The game started un inspiringly with neither side able to provide any chance of noteworthyness in the early stages. Gomez was the first to force a chance on goal but his looping header was well wide of Boric’s goal. Poland’s first attempt was also way wood as Zurawski attempted to test the keeper with a free kick but was three of four yards too high with his shot towards goal.
A goal did come however despite the poor start to the game, when Wanchope won a free kick on the edge of the area. A large wall seemingly blocking the keepers view only appeared to aid the kicker Gomez who smashed his free kick through the cluster of players beating Boric between his legs for the opening goal of the game.
On closer inspection it was a great piece of play by the Costa Ricans who had made some space for the player to fire the shot into an unguarded section of net.
Poland, undeterred by their defecit struck back moments later as a corner struck in was completely missed by the goalkeeper before being struck into the net via Bosacki’s outstretched leg. Beating a defending on the line the player who was un marked level the game at 1-1 and game Poland momentum going into the break.
However it was their opponents who were able to take advantage of the speedy pace of the game and almost found the net through a deflected shot from Gomez.
The second half started brighter than the first and two minutes in Jelen was given acres of space on the edge of the area to try a shot. Unfortunately his balance was off and he was able to hit nothing more than the advertising boards when he really should have done better.
Costa Rica continued to make chances in the game and on the hour mark they were unlucky not to take the lead as Wanchope leaped highest to get his head on a cross which flashed just wide of the goal. As both sides kept pressing for that vital goal, the game became more stretched and more strune with errors.
Indeed it was an error which led to the second and winning goal for Poland as Bosacki bagged his second of the game from a set piece. Allowed to run by his man to the back post he header in beating the keeper at his near post to give Poland three points and to send Costa Rica home as the first team to lose all three games.