Polish national football team lost 1:6 against Belgium in Brussels. The goal for Czesław Michniewicz’s team was scored by Robert Lewandowski. The hosts responded with goals from Axel Witsel, Kevin De Bruyne, Leandro Trossard twice, Leander Dendoncker and Lois Openda. The Belgians are currently second in the FIFA rankings and are considered one of the top teams in the world.
Despite a very intense start to the match by the hosts, it was the Poles who came out on top. After a foul kick in the 28th minute, Robert Lewandowski presented the abilities of the world’s leading footballer and finished gracefully Sebastian Szymański’s throw-in, leading to the White-Red’s advantage. The hosts had to wait until the 42nd minute to respond. Axel Witsel’s curled shot led to the equaliser.
Early in the second half, Bartosz Drągowski saved two great opportunities for the Belgians, first after a shot by Tielemans, then by Hazard. In the 59th minute, De Bruyne was left alone in front of the Polish penalty area and calmly beat Drągowski. Meanwhile, the Polish defenders had been accounting for Hazard, who scored an assist.
The Belgians didn’t stop there, taking advantage of time and the game that didn’t end in goals only thanks to Drągowski’s great attitude and Bereszyński’s successful duels with the rivals’ strikers. Despite this, in the 72nd minute newly introduced Leandro Trosard deked Bednarek and shot at the near post, not giving the goalkeeper a chance. In the 79th minute, the tiny striker made an irresistible shot into Drągowski’s goal after a corner kick.
Just four minutes later, Leander Dendoncker unperturbed shot from distance, putting the ball between all the players, Drągowski’s hands, and the post. Already at 1:5 Nicola Zalewski and Adam Buksa had their chances. Both mentioned players also had had a joint action just before the match ended, but both missed the target. In the last minute of added time, Openda increased the score to 6:1 for Belgium, passing Bednarek after Thorgen Hazard had fed a ball to him.
On Saturday, Poland is playing the Netherlands in Rotterdam with a completely reshuffled line-up.
Belgium – Poland 6:1 (1:1)
Goals: Witsel 42’, De Bryune 59’, Trossard 72’, 79’, Openda 90+3’ – Lewandowski 28’.
Belgium: Mignolet – Dendoncker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen – Castagne, Witsel, Tielemans, Carrasco – De Bruyne, Batshuayi, E. Hazard. And: Trossard, De Ketelaere, T. Hazard, Lois Openda, Faes.
Poland: Drągowski – Gumny, Glik, Bednarek, Puchacz – Żurkowski, Krychowiak, Kamiński, Zieliński, S. Szymański – Lewandowski. And: Bereszyński, D. Szymański, Cash, Buksa, Zalewski.
Yellow cards: Witsel – Krychowiak.
Referee: Ivan Kruzliak (Slovakia).