Serbia 2 Poland 2
Sportinglife.com, UK - Nov 21, 2007
Serbia's slim hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008 came to an end in an entertaining draw with Group A winners Poland.
The visitors took a two-goal lead thanks to strikes from midfielder Rafal Murawski and forward Radoslaw Matusiak. But Serbia strikers Nikola Zigic and Danko Lazovic both netted within two minutes of each other to complete a fine comeback. The hosts, who began the match with an outside chance of qualification if results went their way, began the match positively and went on the attack from the kick-off.
Midfielder Milos Krasic drilled a right-footed shot from 20-yards in the 13th minute which Poland goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski tipped over the bar. Eight minutes later and Zdravko Kuzmanovic's corner picked out Mladen Krstajic but his near-post header was saved by Fabianski. But despite Serbia's pressure it was Poland who opened the scoring in the 28th minute with a neat finish from Murawski.
Midfielder Mariusz Lewandowski played a lofted pass into the path of Murawski who ran into the penalty area and chipped the ball over Serbia goalkeeper Vlada Avramov. Poland went on the attack after the half-time break and quickly doubled their advantage through substitute Matusiak. The striker found space inside the six-yard box and produced a close-range finish that deceived Avramov.
With Poland seemingly cruising to victory Serbia pulled a goal back from nothing in the 69th minute though Zigic. Dusko Tosic delivered a dangerous cross from the right and Zigic rose to head the ball past goalkeeper Fabianski from close range. Two minutes later Serbia grabbed a dramatic equaliser through Lazovic.
Tosic was again the provider and his inswinging corner was met by the head of Lazovic inside the six-yard box and he directed the ball into the bottom-left corner of the net. Poland came close to restoring their advantage in the 75th minute when Branislav Ivanovic brought down Matusiak just outside the penalty area.
Midfielder Mariusz Lewandowski took the resulting free-kick which forced Avramov to parry the ball to safety. Both sides went in search of an equaliser and Serbia almost grabbed a winner through Zigic in the 81st minute. The Valencia striker found space inside the penalty area but directed his header straight at Fabianski.
Teams:
Serbia Avramov, Rukavina, Ivanovic, Krstajic (Dusko Tosic 64), Dragutinovic, Kuzmanovic, Kovacevic, Duljaj (Lazovic 46), Krasic (Jankovic 76), Jovanovic, Zigic.
Subs Not Used: Ilic, Stepanov, Koroman, Pantelic.
Booked: Rukavina, Lazovic.
Goals: Zigic 69, Lazovic 71.
Poland Fabianski, Wasilewski, Bak (Zewlakow 77), Jop, Wawrzyniak, Lobodzinski, Lewandowski, Bronowicki, Murawski, Kosowski (Zahorski 19), Rasiak (Matusiak 46).
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Baszczynski, Gargula, Kielbowicz.
Booked: Wawrzyniak, Bak.
Goals: Murawski 28, Matusiak 47.
Att: 3,000
Ref: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).
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