In their third encounter in the qualifying rounds for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, Poland’s U21 national team secured their third consecutive victory, defeating Estonia 5-0 at the Podkarpackie Stadium in Stalowa Wola. Under the guidance of new coach Adam Majewski, the white-and-red team displayed a remarkable performance, showcasing their dominance in Group D.
From the outset, it was evident which team intended to fight for qualification and which one held the underdog status in Group D. Poland swiftly took the lead in the 7th minute when Nicola Zalewski’s precise pass from the left wing found Michał Rakoczy, who confidently netted the ball, giving Poland an early advantage.
The Polish team continued their offensive onslaught, doubling their lead in the 22nd minute. This time, it was AS Roma’s player who stole the show. Zalewski broke through the left flank, delivering a powerful shot to the near corner that left the Estonian goalkeeper with no chance.
The festival of goals for the white-and-red squad persisted. Just before the halftime mark, Poland extended their lead to three goals. Mateusz Łęgowski orchestrated a brilliant play, setting up Rakoczy, who, in turn, assisted Kajetan Szmyt. Szmyt’s shot was blocked by Kaura Kivila, but Filip Szymczak capitalized on the rebound, putting Poland 3-0 ahead.
Despite missing an opportunity to further widen the gap with a penalty kick before the break, Poland remained relentless in the second half. Rakoczy, the standout player of the match, orchestrated another goal in the 57th minute, providing a precise pass to Szymczak, who fired a strong shot from the penalty area, making it 4-0.
Shortly after, in the 74th minute, substitute Tomasz Pieńko sealed the victory with a goal from the left side of the penalty area, converting Łęgowski’s excellent pass into the team’s fifth goal.
While Poland could have scored more, Szymon Włodarczyk’s poor finishing denied them the opportunity. Despite the missed chances, Poland’s undisputed triumph was evident. With a perfect nine points from their first three matches, they now lead Group D in the Euro U21 qualifiers, holding a three-point advantage over Germany, although the Germans have played one game less.
Looking ahead, the Polish team will face Israel on November 17 in their next match, aiming to continue their impressive run in the qualifying campaign. Under Majewski’s guidance, the young Polish talents have showcased their potential, instilling hope and excitement among Polish football fans as they march towards the European Under-21 Championship.