Poland v Russia

Poland 1

Blaszczykowski 57′

Russia 1

Dzagoev 37′

FT 90 +4
HT 0-1

Euro 2012 highlights: Poland 1-1 Russia

By Ben Smith BBC Sport

Poland produced a stirring performance in Warsaw to hold Russia to a draw and strengthen their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages.

The co-hosts came from behind during a thrilling second half, captain Jakub Blaszczykowski scoring the equaliser with a thunderous left-foot shot.

Russia had taken the lead after 37 minutes, when Alan Dzagoev turned in Andrey Arshavin's curling free-kick.

Although both teams had chances to win the game, the spoils were shared.

Analysis

Pat Nevin BBC Radio 5 live

"Poland deserved that draw. At the start of the game we talked to a Russian journalist about the fitness of their players, because they've only just finished a long domestic season. And they ran out of gas completely in the last 20-25 minutes. At half-time we talked about Poland needing to score early in the second half and it sounded like a cliche. But there's a reason why cliches are used - sometimes they come true. And it came true tonight."

The result leaves Group A wide open, with all four teams still mathematically able to qualify for the quarter-finals after a night of high drama in the Polish capital.

This was not a rivalry in need of stoking, or a fixture that required additional hype.

And yet fuel was thrown on the fire in the hours before kick-off as riot police clashed with fans from both countries in a series of violent exchanges on the streets of Warsaw.

A march in support of Russia's Independence Day, from the city centre to the stadium, prompted widespread anger among Polish extremists.

If the atmosphere around the stadium was raw at kick-off, the early exchanges were equally frenzied.

Arshavin was immediately in the thick of the action, probing, pressing, jinking beyond defenders. But the best of the early chances fell to Poland.

Ludovic Obraniak's curling free-kick was headed goalwards by Sebastian Boenisch only for Russia goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev to turn the ball away.

Poland had the ball in the net after 17 minutes, but the linesman's flag correctly denied them after Robert Lewandowski and Eugen Polanski had linked up delightfully following an incisive one-touch passing move.

But for all Poland's early exuberance, Russia remained a constant danger. Arshavin and Aleksandr Kerzhakov were at the heart of everything for Dick Advocaat's team, who gradually began to resemble the side that had been imperious in sweeping aside the Czech Republic in their opening game.

Poland struggled to contain the movement of Dzagoev, while Yuri Zhirkov's probing runs down the left flank were equally threatening.

The momentum was shifting and Russia struck decisively.

Possession precision?

Russia had 60.2% of possession, but only had 11 shots on goal compared to Poland's 15
Russia also had all eight of the top passers in the match
Igor Denisov led the way with 107 passes, 36 more than Konstantin Zyryanov on 71. Poland's top passer was Ludovic Obraniak with 43

Arshavin's pin-point free-kick curled menacingly across the penalty area and it was Dzagoev who steered it beyond Poland goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton, the ball fortuitously deflecting off his shoulder for his third goal of Euro 2012.

Poland were unbowed, however. They began the second half as they had the first, Polanski finding Lewandowski beyond the final defender but the Borrusia Dortmund striker was driven wide before Malafeev snuffed out the danger with his legs.

Lewandowski was through again moments later but Malafeev was again alert to the danger, punching clear decisively.

The game was becoming increasingly stretched now. Russia threatened every time they broke forward but Poland refused to give up, pouring forward time after time, scattering red shirts and levelling the match with a stunning goal from their captain.

Blaszczykowski escaped the attentions of Zhirkov, cut in from the right flank and unleashed a searing left-foot shot that arrowed beyond Malafeev and into the top left-hand corner of the net. The goal sparked scenes of euphoria in the stadium and Poland clearly drew strength from the partisan support.

Adrian Mierzejewski fired wide from 25 yards as Poland began to sniff an unlikely victory. Lewandowski saw a shot blocked before left-back Sebastian Boenisch surged forward, beat two Russian defenders and thundered a shot over the bar from distance.

Both teams had chances to win the match but at the final whistle it was the Polish supporters whose smiles were widest.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (5)

Poland

22 Tyton
02 Boenisch
13 Wasilewski
15 Perquis
20 Piszczek
05 Dudka (Mierzejewski - 73' )
07 Polanski Booked (Matuschyk - 84' )
10 Obraniak (Brozek - 90' )
11 Murawski
16 Blaszczykowski
09 Lewandowski Booked

Substitutes

12 Sandomierski
03 Wojtkowiak
04 Kaminski
14 Wawrzyniak
06 Matuschyk
08 Rybus
18 Mierzejewski
19 Wolski
21 Grosicki
17 Sobiech
23 Brozek

Russia

16 Malafeev
02 Aniukov
04 Ignashevich
05 Zhirkov
12 Berezutsky
06 Shirokov
07 Denisov Booked
08 Zyryanov
17 Dzagoev Booked (Izmailov - 79' )
10 Arshavin
11 Kerzhakov (Pavlyuchenko - 70' )

Substitutes

01 Akinfeev
13 Shunin
03 Sharonov
19 Granat
21 Nababkin
09 Izmailov
15 Kombarov
22 Glushakov
23 Semshov
14 Pavlyuchenko
18 Kokorin
20 Pogrebniak

Ref: Stark

Att: 53,617

Match Stats

Possession 51 49

Shots

17 7

On target

9 4

Corners

5 6

Fouls

11 14

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:37 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +1:41

The free kick is delivered right-footed by Jakub Blaszczykowski from right wing, blocked by Sergei Ignashevich.

90:00 +1:41 Substitution

Substitution Pawel Brozek is brought on as a substitute for Ludovic Obraniak.

90:00 +1:41

Unfair challenge on Lukasz Piszczek by Andrey Arshavin results in a free kick.

89:07

Robert Lewandowski challenges Aleksandr Aniukov unfairly and gives away a free kick. Igor Denisov takes the indirect free kick.

83:48 Substitution

Substitution Eugen Polanski goes off and Adam Matuszczyk comes on.

82:25

Marat Izmailov takes a shot. Blocked by Marcin Wasilewski.

82:04

Andrey Arshavin decides to take a short corner.

81:43

The assistant referee flags for offside against Jakub Blaszczykowski. Yury Zhirkov restarts play with the free kick.

80:12

Ludovic Obraniak takes a shot. Save by Viacheslav Malafeev.

78:12 Booking

Booking Eugen Polanski receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

78:03

Yury Zhirkov restarts play with the free kick.

78:03 Substitution

Substitution Marat Izmailov comes on in place of Alan Dzagoev.

78:03

Free kick awarded for a foul by Eugen Polanski on Yury Zhirkov.

76:14

Shot from just outside the box by Sebastian Boenisch goes over the bar.

75:49

Robert Lewandowski takes a shot. Blocked by Sergei Ignashevich.

75:00

Free kick taken by Rafal Murawski.

75:00 Booking

Booking The referee shows Alan Dzagoev a yellow card.

74:56

Free kick awarded for a foul by Alan Dzagoev on Sebastian Boenisch.

74:06

Robert Lewandowski fouled by Alexei Berezutsky, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Adrian Mierzejewski.

73:40

Adrian Mierzejewski has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide right of the goal.

72:32 Substitution

Substitution Adrian Mierzejewski is brought on as a substitute for Dariusz Dudka.

72:32

Shot from just outside the box by Sebastian Boenisch misses to the right of the target.

72:02

Roman Pavlyuchenko challenges Marcin Wasilewski unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Damien Perquis.

71:32

Andrey Arshavin produces a cross, save by Przemyslaw Tyton.

68:56 Substitution

Substitution Alexander Kerzhakov goes off and Roman Pavlyuchenko comes on.

68:56 Substitution

Substitution Roman Pavlyuchenko replaces Alexander Kerzhakov.