VIENNA, Austria. March 21 (PSN) – Poland opened up their UEFA EURO 2020 qualifying campaign with a 1:0 away win over Austria at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna.
Final score: Austria – Poland 0:1
Both teams before the first whistle were perceived as the favourites to win Group G. Thus, for this reason many believed that this encounter could be crucial in the context of the eventual first place spot of the group.
While the first half contained little emotion, the second half made more than enough for that. The two sides each had several dangerous goal situations created, but only the visiting Poles managed to capitalize on at least one of them.
The game winning goal was scored by Krzysztof Piatek in the 68th minute of play after heading the ball into an open net. The goal along with some impressive play from the 23-year-old may likely put an end to his critics who still don’t see a place for him on the bialo-czerwoni starting eleven.
It is worth noting that this was Poland’s first victory under Jerzy Brzeczek in six months, with the former Wisla Plock coach previously having a rocky start in charge of his first international team.
Poland play Latvia next on Sunday in Warsaw.
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Austria – Poland 0:1 (0:0)
Goal: Piątek 68′
Yellow carded: Dragović, Alaba – Bereszyński
Referee: Anastássios Sidirópoulos (Greece) Attendance: 40 400
Austria: 1. Heinz Lindner – 20. Stefan Lainer, 3. Aleksandar Dragović, 4. Martin Hinteregger, 11. Maximilian Wöber – 22. Valentino Lazaro (81, 21. Marc Janko), 14. Julian Baumgartlinger, 10. Florian Grillitsch (84, 19. Karim Onisiwo), 9. Marcel Sabitzer, 8. David Alaba – 7. Marko Arnautović
Poland: 1. Wojciech Szczęsny – 19. Tomasz Kędziora, 15. Kamil Glik, 5. Jan Bednarek, 18. Bartosz Bereszyński – 11. Kamil Grosicki (90, 2. Michał Pazdan), 14. Mateusz Klich, 10. Grzegorz Krychowiak, 7. Arkadiusz Milik (46, 21. Przemysław Frankowski), 20. Piotr Zieliński (59, 23. Krzysztof Piątek) – 9. Robert Lewandowski
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