Football: Poland lose 2-3 to Portugal in Nations League

Poland on Thursday lost 2-3 to Portugal in their second match of the new UEFA Nations League, a sobering home defeat that exposed the side’s frailties and left fans in low spirits. Genoa striker Krzysztof Piątek headed home a corner to put Poland 1-0 up in the 18th minute of the game in the southern Polish city of Chorzów, but Andre Silva equalized for Portugal from close range in the 31st.

An own goal from defender Kamil Glik after an unsuccessful sliding tackle handed Portugal the lead in the 42nd minute. Bernardo Silva sealed the victory for the visitors in the 52nd even though substitute Jakub Błaszczykowski slammed in a second goal for Poland from a cross in the 77th minute. The clash at Chorzów’s revamped Silesian Stadium marked the 100th international cap for Poland star striker Robert Lewandowski, who, however, failed to impress the crowd of around 55,000, Polish public broadcaster TVP said.

Poland in early September drew 1-1 with Italy in their first match in the group stage of the UEFA Nations League. That game, at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara in Bologna, was a promising debut by Jerzy Brzęczek as manager of the Polish national squad. He took over after Poland’s early exit from the World Cup in Russia. Poland on September 11 drew 1-1 with Ireland in a friendly game after a lackluster display that left fans disappointed.
Poland was in January drawn to play Italy and Portugal in the group stage of the UEFA Nations League, a new competitive football format designed to replace most international friendlies in Europe. European nations were arranged into four leagues, A, B, C and D, based on their UEFA ranking at the time. Poland plays Italy and Portugal at home and away in Group 3 of the top League A.