The initial phase belonged to the hosts. A cross from Matty Cash was headed just wide by Lewandowski under pressure (10′).
As a result, Sweden got better and better and also earned the first top-class players. After Krystian Bielik lost the ball, Alexander Isak staged Emil Forsberg, who failed in the sixteenth to Wojciech Szczesny (19′).
After the pressure phase of the Swedes, there was once more a stronger phase of the Poles. After some strong preparatory work by Sebastian Szymanski, Cash came free on the right side of the box, but missed miserably from close range (26′).
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After a corner from Poland had already been clarified, Jan Bednarek took a volley from the penalty area, but failed to get through to Robin Olsen (29′).
The second round started with a bang. Isak was released on the right in the box and laid it down for Kulusevski, who, however, mightn’t get past Szczesny from 17 meters out (47′).
As a direct countermove, Jesper Karlström got into a too impetuous duel in his own penalty area with freshly substituted Grzegorz Krychowiak, who fell and was able to get a clear penalty. Lewandowski was able to convert this confidently (49th).
As a result, the Poles stood very deep and managed the somewhat fortunate lead compactly. Sweden took matters into their own hands, but were only able to create a few chances overall.
After strong preliminary work from Isak and a misunderstanding between Szczesny and Cash, Forsberg had a great chance to equalize, but Szczesny was able to save the shot at the last second (58th). Victor Lindelöf headed the following corner just wide to the right (59′).
Kulusevski then served the substitute Mattias Svanberg before the sixteen, but Szczesny was there once more (69th).
The final phase then belonged to the home side once more. Due to an individual error by Marcus Danielson, Piotr Zielinski appeared free in front of Olsen and shot the ball from the inside right into the near corner from 13 meters (72′).
Goalkeeper Olsen then prevented an even greater defeat when he first parried a Bednarek header from close range and immediately followingwards a header from Lewandowski (75′, 76′).
The voices:
Kamil Glik (Poland): “I played with an injury from the first minute. The first contact I had with an opponent I felt pain. I’m pretty sure I have a torn muscle and I think I might be out for two to three weeks. After that it was Then of course it was difficult for me to give my all, especially when I started. […] nothing interested me except this match that mattered here and now. I’m so happy. We didn’t play the best game, but we got used to the fact that we can win 1-0 or 2-0 despite bad football. You would like to win in style, but we should be happy that way.”
Grzegorz Krychowiak (Poland): “Everyone worked hard to go to the World Cup. This team has fantastic players and it hurt not being able to play the first game, but it was a result of the war that didn’t allow us to play to prepare. […] It was the most important game of the season for us. We didn’t play well before the break, even though we had good chances. We know we have to improve because we’re not going to win much at the World Cup.”
Janne Andersson (Coach Sweden): “It was an unnecessary penalty and then they added a little bit to the game. And then the second goal was an individual error and then all of a sudden you’re 0-2 behind, then you have to go uphill. But we had the game until the penalty completely under control. But we have to follow our chances with goals, it’s as simple as that.”
Emil Forsberg (Sweden): “It was an even game. It was tough and then they get a chance to take the lead from a penalty and they do it. In a game like this there is something, that moment can mean a lot. It turns the game around a bit and they managed the result. After that I think we were still good and created chances. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough today.”
The tweet regarding the game
That was noticeable: A stupid foul changes everything
Sweden dominated the game for long stretches and should have taken the lead through Emil Forsberg before the break. Poland played a very poor first half; you might tell Lewandowski and Co. the tension. But then came the 49th minute and Karlström’s impetuous goal. The goal untied the knot in the Poles and played them fully in the cards. From then on, the hosts were able to withdraw and counter from a secure defense – exactly their game.
The stats: 9
His converted penalty was Robert Lewandowski’s ninth goal in World Cup qualifying. Only Memphis Depay and Harry Kane scored more goals (both 12). Poland itself scored a total of 32 goals in qualifying.
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