Resolute Poland fire five past San Marino at the PGE Narodowy

Poland weren’t troubled as they strolled to a comfortable victory against bottom of the table San Marino in Lukasz Fabianski’s final game for the national team.

The game was entirely centred on the retiring Fabianski as he made the starting 11 for his 57th and final cap for the White and Reds.

In the fourth minute, Przemyslaw Placheta looked to find Robert Lewandowski inside the penalty box but the ball was cleared away for a corner by the San Marino defence.

Paulo Sousa’s side continued on the front foot as Mateusz Klich tried to pick out Poland’s number nine. However, San Marino stayed put and cleared the ball away from danger.

The first shot of the game came in the seventh minute. Placheta shifted the ball past the defender and fired an effort goalwards which was saved by Elia Benedettini.

After a wave of attacks, Poland broke the deadlock in the 10th minute. Karol Swiderski headed in Placheta’s cross to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

10 minutes later, the White and Reds doubled their advantage after an own goal from Cristian Brolli. Kacper Kozlowski looked to deliver the ball into the box only for the defender to divert it past Benedettini and into his own net.

The first half ended with Poland two goals in front. The hosts continued to pile on the pressure as they searched to extend their advantage but San Marino did well to only concede two with the sheer number of shots the White and Reds had during the first 45 minutes.

Five minutes into the second half, Poland scored a third. The corner was whipped in by Placheta with Swiderski flicking the ball into the path of Michal Helik. The Barnsley defender’s effort hit the post but Tomasz Kedziora was there to smash in the rebound from close range.

In the 57th minute of the match, Lukasz Fabianski, who was in tears, left the field of play as he ended his international career on a high. Radosław Majecki came on in his place with the AS Monaco goalkeeper making his debut for the national team.

Adam Buksa got himself on the scoresheet for the fifth time in only his fourth appearance as Poland extend their advantage.

In added time of the second half, on his return to the national team, Krzysztof Piatek added a fifth as he tapped the ball in from close range after Kozlowski’s cutback.

All attentions will now turn to the muchly anticipated game against Albania as the winner of that encounter looks likely to take second place in Group I and qualify for the play-offs.

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