WARSAW, Poland. October 8 (PSN) – Three goals from Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski have helped to give Poland the joint lead in its FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifying group.
Final score: Poland – Denmark 3:2
Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick as Poland secured a thrilling 3:2 victory over Denmark in their FIFA World Cup European Group E qualifier on Saturday.
The hosts opened the scoring at Warsaw’s National Stadium in the 20th minute when Kamil Grosicki crossed for Lewandowski, who put the ball in the back of the net from close range.
The Bayern Munich striker made it 2:0 with a penalty nine minutes before half-time after Denmark full back Jannik Vestergaard brought down Arkadiusz Milik.
Lewandowski ensured possession of the match ball at the start of the second half when he pounced on a poor clearance from Vestergaard, who had a forgettable match.
Denmark, though, was quick to respond, scoring in the 49th minute when Poland’s Kamil Glik turned the ball past his own keeper, Lukasz Fabianski.
The visitors then started to dominate and it was no surprise when lively substitute Yussuf Poulsen netted a second Denmark goal in the 69th minute.
With playmaker Christian Eriksen tightly marked by Poland’s defenders, Denmark was unable to draw level in a thrilling final 20 minutes.
The victory sees Poland joint top of the group, alongside Montenegro and Romania, having secured four points from two matches. Denmark, meanwhile, sits fourth on three points in an increasingly tight group.
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Poland – Denmark 3:2 (2:0)
Goals: Lewandowski 20′, 36′ (Pk), 47′ – Glik 49′ (OG), Poulsen 69′
Yellow carded: Thiago Cionek – Schmeichel, Eriksen
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy) Attendance: 56 811
Poland: 22. Łukasz Fabiański – 20. Łukasz Piszczek, 15. Kamil Glik, 4. Thiago Cionek, 3. Artur Jędrzejczyk – 16. Jakub Błaszczykowski (89, 17. Sławomir Peszko), 10. Grzegorz Krychowiak, 19. Piotr Zieliński, 7. Arkadiusz Milik (46, 8. Karol Linetty), 11. Kamil Grosicki (74, 13. Maciej Rybus) – 9. Robert Lewandowski
Denmark: 1. Kasper Schmeichel – 4. Simon Kjær, 6. Andreas Christensen, 3. Jannik Vestergaard (82, 8. Thomas Delaney) – 2. Peter Ankersen, 7. William Kvist, 23. Pierre Højbjerg, 10. Christian Eriksen, 5. Riza Durmisi – 11. Viktor Fischer (75, 15. Pione Sisto), 9. Nicolai Jørgensen (46, 20. Yussuf Poulsen)
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