Poland 2-1 Albania: Lewandowski & Zielinski seal comeback win for hosts

Poland came from behind to beat Albania 2-1 and reach the World Cup playoff finals on Thursday, with Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski netting ‌second-half goals to set up a Path B decider away to Sweden on Tuesday.

Match Report

Arber Hoxha put Albania ahead three minutes from the break but their bid to reach their first World Cup ended in Warsaw as Poland maintained ⁠their perfect playoff record, having qualified for the last World Cup and Euro 2024 by the same route.

Poland started brightly, with Albania's Elseid Hysaj clearing off the line from Jakub Kiwior's header, but the hosts failed to capitalise on their early energy and allowed the visitors to settle into the game and take the lead.

Polish defender Jan Bednarek failed to control ‌a ⁠long ball and Hoxha stole in, rounded the keeper and slotted into the empty net.

Albania missed a gilt-edged chance to double their advantage with Poland outnumbered at the back. Hysaj rolled the perfect ⁠ball across to Nedim Bajrami who took too long to get a shot away and eventually blasted his effort wide.

Lewandowski levelled with a ⁠header at the back post from a corner in the 63rd minute and 10 minutes later Zielinski smashed a ⁠first-time shot from outside the area into the corner of the net, keeping Poland on course for a third consecutive finals appearance.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

1' Highlight from Poland vs Albania

15' Highlight from Poland vs Albania

42' GOAL! Poland 0-1 Albania (Arbër Hoxha)

48' Highlight from Poland vs Albania

63' GOAL! Poland 1-1 Albania (Robert Lewandowski)

73' GOAL! Poland 2-1 Albania (Piotr Zieliński)

Line-ups

Poland XI: Lewandowski, Tomasz Kedziora, Zielinski, Bednarek, Grabara, Sebastian Szymanski, Matty Cash, Michal Skoras, Kiwior, Jakub Kaminski, Filip Rózga

Subs: K. Grosicki, Bereszynski, Bartłomiej Drągowski, Piatek, Karol Świderski, Bartosz Slisz, Jakub Moder, Mateusz Kochalski, Przemysław Wiśniewski, Arkadiusz Pyrka, Jan Ziolkowski, Oskar Pietuszewski

Albania XI: Hysaj, Djimsiti, Ajeti, Strakosha, Qazim Laci, Myrto Uzuni, Nedim Bajrami, Arbër Hoxha, Juljan Shehu, Mario Mitaj, Asllani

Subs: Balliu, Naser Aliji, Elhan Kastrati, Ylber Ramadani, Mario Dajsinani, Ardian Ismajli, Ernest Muci, Armando Broja, Stavro Pilo, Anis Mehmeti, Adrion Pajaziti, Bujar Pllana