Group A
Poland 2-1 Costa Rica

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Bartosz Bosacki notched his first goals for Poland to help his side to victory in Group A’s bottom of the table clash with Costa Rica.

In a game that neither side had anything to play for, it was refreshing to see that both teams were determined to make a proper and go out of the tournament on a high.

However, as the match developed, it degenerated into a scrappy affair with both sides collecting ten bookings in an encounter littered with petty fouls.

The win ensured Poland ended their campaign with a win that might help keep coach Pawel Janas in a job following cricticism of his side’s disappoi9nting performance in the tournament.

Costa Rica looked the livelier of the two teams in the opening stages although neither team was exactly setting the match alight.

Ronald Gomez opened the scoring when he caught the unsighted Artur Boruc off guard with a direct free-kick.

Gomez almost created a wonderful second goal, with a deft inside flick to Paulo Wanchope but he failed to collect the return ball with an open goal begging.

Just after the half hour mark Poland finally manged to score their first goal of the competition. Maciej Zurawski’s corner was misjudged by Costa Rica keeper Jose Porras and when the ball dropped to Bosacki, he fired home.

Cristian Bolanos nearly gave Costa Rica the lead just after the break when he was sent clear, but Artur Borus was alert to the danger and collects the ball.

Midway through the half, and much to the delight of their long suffering supporters, Poland went ahead. Jacek Krzynowek earned a corner following a thunderous effort and from the resulting corner, the unmarked Bosacki headed home.

Paulo Wanchope thought he had equalied for Costa Rica when he chipped Artur Boruc and headd into an empty net. However, his celebrations were curtailed when the referee flagged for offside.

Teams
Poland: Boruc, Baszczynski, Bak, Bosacki, Zewlakow, Krzynowek, Szymkowiak, Smolarek, Radomski, Jelen, Zurawski.

Bookings: Radomski 18, Bak 23, Zewlakow 29, Baszczynski 60, Boruc 90

Costa Rica: Porras, Drummond, Gonzalez, Umana, Marin, Bolanos, Solis, Centeno, Badilla, Wanchope, Gomez.

Subs used: Wallace 70 (for Drummond), Saborio 78 (for Bolanos), Hernandez 82 (for Gomez)

Bookings: Umana 17, Marin 45, Gomez 45, Badilla 56, Gonzalez 76

Referee: Shamsul Maidin (Singapore)

Scorers:
Costa Rica: Gomez 24
Poland: Bosacki 33, 66

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