Post by Monica-Webmaster on Oct 12, 2008 4:19:52 GMT
Poland Punish Poor Czech Republic
side thanks to goals either side of the half by Pawel Brozek and Jakub Blaszczykowski......
Poland 2-1 Czech Republic
Poland kept their unbeaten record intact as they overcame the Czech Republic with relative ease in Chorzow on Saturday evening thanks to a goal in either half.
Whilst the scoreline might not look too one-sided in reality the hosts controlled much of the game and deservedly took the lead through Pawel Brozek with just 27 minutes gone.
It took only eight minutes after the interval for them to extend their lead as Jakub Blaszczykowski chipped over Petr Cech and even though Martin Fenin scored late on it was a deserved victory for Poland.
The win means that they stay top of Group 3 with seven points whilst the Czech Republic have just one point after two games, a disappointing return for such a highly regarded side.
Missing Midfield Maestro
Indeed, from the start the visitors looked poor without playmaker Tomas Rosicky, who is out for the long-term due to injury, and Poland controlled proceedings. Roger Guerreiro was one of the main tormentors with some nice runs and Jakub Wawrzyniak should have done better when he was played through by the Brazilian born winger, but he sent his volley over the bar from close-range.
It didn't take long for Poland to take the lead though as Blaszczykowski dribbled took it round three defenders and laid it off to Brozek, who hit a low, crisp shot to beat Cech in the goal. It was no more than the hosts deserved and the Czechs looked devoid of ideas as they struggled to create any chances.
They might well have been glad of the half-time whistle when it arrived but just minutes after coming back out they were punished for some more slack defending. This time it was Blaszczykowski who was on the end of the final ball from Guerreiro and he chipped neatly over Cech to give them a two goal cushion.
Until then the Czechs had offered little but as the clock wore down they did finally start to show some urgency and Milan Baros saw a shot well saved by Artur Boruc before David Rozehnal blasted over from seven yards. A goal then would have possibly given the game some life but as it was the headed goal in the 87th minute by Martin Fenin came a little too late for the visitors.
Defeat means that the Czech Republic now have to win their next match against Slovenia to revive their hopes of qualifying while a win for Poland against Slovakia would put them in a great position heading into the winter break.
POLAND 2-1 CZECH REPUBLIC
1-0 Brozek 27'
2-0 Blaszczykowski 53`
2-1 Fenin 87`
Poland: Boruc, Wasilewski, Zewlakow, Dudka, Wawrzyniak (Krzynowek, 43), Blaszczykowski, Lewandowski, Murawski (Jodlowiec, 90), Smolarek, Guerreiro, Brozek (Lewandowski, 69).
Czech Republic: Cech, Grygera (Sionko, 58), Rozehnal, Ujfalusi, Jankulovski, Pospech, Kovac, Plasil, Sirl, Baros (Fenin, 80), Slepicka (Sverkos, 58)
side thanks to goals either side of the half by Pawel Brozek and Jakub Blaszczykowski......
Poland 2-1 Czech Republic
Poland kept their unbeaten record intact as they overcame the Czech Republic with relative ease in Chorzow on Saturday evening thanks to a goal in either half.
Whilst the scoreline might not look too one-sided in reality the hosts controlled much of the game and deservedly took the lead through Pawel Brozek with just 27 minutes gone.
It took only eight minutes after the interval for them to extend their lead as Jakub Blaszczykowski chipped over Petr Cech and even though Martin Fenin scored late on it was a deserved victory for Poland.
The win means that they stay top of Group 3 with seven points whilst the Czech Republic have just one point after two games, a disappointing return for such a highly regarded side.
Missing Midfield Maestro
Indeed, from the start the visitors looked poor without playmaker Tomas Rosicky, who is out for the long-term due to injury, and Poland controlled proceedings. Roger Guerreiro was one of the main tormentors with some nice runs and Jakub Wawrzyniak should have done better when he was played through by the Brazilian born winger, but he sent his volley over the bar from close-range.
It didn't take long for Poland to take the lead though as Blaszczykowski dribbled took it round three defenders and laid it off to Brozek, who hit a low, crisp shot to beat Cech in the goal. It was no more than the hosts deserved and the Czechs looked devoid of ideas as they struggled to create any chances.
They might well have been glad of the half-time whistle when it arrived but just minutes after coming back out they were punished for some more slack defending. This time it was Blaszczykowski who was on the end of the final ball from Guerreiro and he chipped neatly over Cech to give them a two goal cushion.
Until then the Czechs had offered little but as the clock wore down they did finally start to show some urgency and Milan Baros saw a shot well saved by Artur Boruc before David Rozehnal blasted over from seven yards. A goal then would have possibly given the game some life but as it was the headed goal in the 87th minute by Martin Fenin came a little too late for the visitors.
Defeat means that the Czech Republic now have to win their next match against Slovenia to revive their hopes of qualifying while a win for Poland against Slovakia would put them in a great position heading into the winter break.
POLAND 2-1 CZECH REPUBLIC
1-0 Brozek 27'
2-0 Blaszczykowski 53`
2-1 Fenin 87`
Poland: Boruc, Wasilewski, Zewlakow, Dudka, Wawrzyniak (Krzynowek, 43), Blaszczykowski, Lewandowski, Murawski (Jodlowiec, 90), Smolarek, Guerreiro, Brozek (Lewandowski, 69).
Czech Republic: Cech, Grygera (Sionko, 58), Rozehnal, Ujfalusi, Jankulovski, Pospech, Kovac, Plasil, Sirl, Baros (Fenin, 80), Slepicka (Sverkos, 58)