Fantastic football on display as Poland edge out India
|Image: Angelica Ibarra Rodriguez
Some fantastic football was on display from both sides as Poland edged out India in what was a thoroughly entertaining end-to-end encounter on Day 4 of the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup.
India registered the first real chance which ended with a shot going wide of the post, before the India goalkeeper was called into action, pushing a Poland shot wide and then parrying a shot over the bar as Poland started to make their presence felt in the game.
The first goal wasn’t too long in coming, when a perfectly weighted pass from the goalkeeper found the Poland captain, who took one touch with her back to goal to find space, turned and struck a sweet right-footed finish past the India goalkeeper.
Poland quickly doubled their lead with a side-foot finish into the top corner from their impressive captain past the India goalkeeper, before Indian broke up the park from the restart, with a fine passing move ending with a shot off the bar, before the Poland goalkeeper was called into action, saving well with her legs from point-blank range.
The Poland goalkeeper then pulled off another great stop after India took a quick freekick and Poland were caught napping.
Then we saw a great moment of sportsmanship as an India player helped an injured Poland player off the park.
|Poland took on USA yesterday winning 6-0 Image: Anita Milas
India amped up the pressure, striking the bar after a good attacking move before a fantastic saving tackle from Poland preventing an India player from making it 2-1 after they were played through on goal.
Just prior to half-time, India finally got off the mark with a side-foot finish past the Poland goalkeeper.
India continued their momentum into the second half and soon found themselves level after a shot on the right-hand side ricocheted off the Poland goalkeeper into the net, before Poland missed the chance to retake the lead from the penalty spot, the Poland player sending their shot wide of the post.
As Poland came back into the game, India’s goalkeeper pulled off a couple of good saves while the team defended valiantly, before a fizzing side-foot strike into the corner of the net saw them move into a 3-2 lead.
Moments later, a great block near the edge of the goalkeeper’s area prevented India from getting back on level terms, before a Poland player found themselves alone in front of goal to slot home and put their team 4-2 up.
With a two-goal lead, Poland worked to keep possession and limit any possibility of an India attack as they wound down the clock to secure the victory.
Speaking after the match, Poland player Karolina Kowalska said: “It’s a beautiful place here. Everyone wants to talk and they want to dance and help us. It’s amazing.
“I was at smaller tournaments in France and in Dublin before and it’s the same. On the pitch maybe we are enemies but before and after we are friends. It’s amazing.”
Words: Craig Williams
Photos: Anita Milas and Angelica Ibarra Rodriguez