Plucky Poland dump Ukraine

Marseille, June 22: A second-half strike by substitute Jakub Blaszczykowski booked Poland’s ticket into the last-16 at Euro 2016 and sent hapless Ukraine home without a point.

The 30-year-old Fiorentina veteran had been rested by coach Adam Nawalka who made four changes in all but scored minutes from his introduction at halftime to decide the tie.

With two 1-0 wins in Group ‘C’ against Northern Ireland and the Ukrainians either side of a scoreless draw against Germany, Poland finished in second place in the group on goal difference.

After defeats to Germany and the Irish, Ukraine were already eliminated before the game in the Stade Velodrome. Their latest failure meant they became the first team to go five matches without a goal in Euro history.

With pride at stake for Mykhailo Fomenko’s men and a chance of topping the Group ‘C’ table beckoning for Poland, both teams attacked from the off.

Poland’s strike pair formidable Arkadiusz Milik and Robert Lewandowski each had early chances, the Bayern Munich star volleying the more clearcut of the two over Andriy Yatov’s crossbar.

Ukraine’s Andriy Yarmolenko should have scored on the quarter hour but chipped wide when one-on-one against Lukasz Fabianski.

Lewandowski found more room than in the previous two games and had a drive deflected wide on 20 minutes, but from the half-hour Ukraine began to assert themselves. — AFP