Poland beat Ireland 2-1 to automatically qualify for Euro 2016 and consign the Irish to the play-offs.
The hosts took the lead with 13 minutes on the clock when Grzegorz Krychowiak was left in acres of space outside the box and fired in from distance.
However the visitors were level moments just later, courtesy of Jon Walters’ nerveless penalty, following a foul on Shane Long that was actually marginally outside the area.
Republic of Ireland's Jon Walters (2nd L) celebrates with his team mates after scoring a penalty goal against Poland during their Euro 2016 group D qualification soccer match in Warsaw, Poland October 11, 2015
Image credit: Reuters
But late in the first half Ireland left Robert Lewandowski free in the box, and Europe’s most lethal marksman made no mistake with a thunderbolt of a header to restore Poland’s advantage.
The second half was a fraught affair, but there was one great chance for Ireland to grab the equaliser that they needed to leapfrog Poland. Aiden McGeady conjured up a chance for Richard Keogh with ten minutes to go, but the centre-back headed the close-range gilt-edged opportunity straight at Lukasz Fabianski.
John O’Shea saw red in added time, while Jon Walters picked up a booking that will rule him out of Ireland’s next game.
The win for Poland saw them qualify automatically for Euro 2016 along with group-winners Germany – who managed to avoid embarrassment against Georgia with a late 2-1 win.
For Ireland, they will live to fight another day, but will now have to navigate a way through the play-offs.
Ireland's midfielder Robbie Brady (L) and Polish striker Robert Lewandowski vie during the Euro 2016 Group D qualifying football match between Poland and the Republic of Ireland at the Stadion Narodowy in Warsaw on October 11, 2015
Image credit: AFP
KEY MOMENTS
13’ GOAL: Grzegorz Krychowiak controls an Ireland clearance with his first touch and drills a low shot into the bottom corner with his second. 1-0 Poland.
14’ PENALTY: Ireland have been given a penalty straight from the restart. Shane Long is caught in the face by a high boot and - after initial confusion - the referee points to the spot. It is a very dangerous foul, but marginally outside the box.
16’ GOAL: Jonathan Walters buries the spot-kick in the bottom corner and it's 1-1 in the blink of an eye!
17’ RULED OUT: This game has exploded into life. Kamil Grosicki finds the back of the next after a spot of pinball in the Ireland area, but the officials had spotted a foul in the build-up.
42’ GOAL: Poland are back ahead, and guess who's got it. Man of the moment Robert Lewandowski thunders a header past Randolph from around the penalty spot to make it 15 goals in his last five matches. Astonishing.
Poland's Robert Lewandowski reacts after scoring a goal during the Euro 2016 Group D qualifying football match between Poland and the Republic of Ireland at the Stadion Narodowy in Warsaw on October 11, 2015
Image credit: AFP
80’ BIG CHANCE: Keogh draws a great save out of Fabianski, who jumps gratefully on the bouncing ball to deny Ireland a chance on the rebound.
92’ OFF: Ireland give the ball away and are caught horribly exposed on the break. John O'Shea makes a cynical foul to stop the counter-attack and doesn't even wait to see his second yellow card before turning and walking off the pitch.
94’ MISSES NEXT GAME: Walters is booked and that means he'll miss the first leg of Ireland's next game... which looks likely to be a play-off unless they can conjure up something dramatic in the last few seconds.
Ireland's midfielder James McCarthy (L) and Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (C) vie as Poland's defender Michal Pazdan looks during the Euro 2016 Group D qualifying football match between Poland and the Republic of Ireland at the Stadion Narodowy in Wa
Image credit: AFP
TALKING POINT
Can Ireland still make it? This was a huge missed opportunity for Martin O’Neill and his Republic of Ireland side, but they will still fancy their chances of progressing via the play-offs. However, much will rest on the luck of the draw, as there looks likely to be some really high quality teams dropping into the play-off round. Get a good draw and Ireland will have every chance, particularly if they manage to recreate the level that they have reached this week.
PLAYER RATINGS
Poland: Fabianski 8; Piszczek 7, Pazdan 7, Glik 6, Wawrzyniak 7; Olkowski 7, Krychowiak 8, Linetty 6, Grosicki 8, Maczynski 7; Lewandowski 8. Subs: Blaszcykowski 7, Szukala 6, Peszko 6.
Republic of Ireland: Randolph 8; Coleman 8, O'Shea 5, Keogh 5, Brady 5; Whelan 5, McCarthy 5, Hendrick 5, McClean 5: Walters 7, Long 6. Subs: Keane 5, McGeady 5, Hoolahan 7.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Robert Lewandowski (Poland) – There was no question prior to the game who was going to be the biggest threat for Ireland, but they still couldn’t keep the Bayern Munich striker quiet. Lewandowski’s bullet of a header late in the first half gave Poland a lead that they never relinquished and he looked the most likely player on the pitch to score for the remainder of the match. Without him Poland aren’t great shakes, but with him they will be a dangerous proposition for even the best teams in Europe.
MATCH IN A TWEET
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