Poland ever closer to World Cup qualification after victory over Wales

Poland has taken another major step towards qualifying for the 2002 Football World Cup by beating Wales 2:1 in Cardiff. Despite leading the Group 3 standings before Saturday's game, Poland was by no means the pre-match favorite, since six key players could not play due to injury or suspension. Wales scored first, in the fifteenth minute, after a mistake by the Polish defense let in Nathan Blake. This was a new experience for the Poles, since never before in any of their previous World Cup 2002 qualifying games had the opposing team scored first. However, as usual the team could count on its most prolific marksman, Emmanuel Olisadebe. The Nigerian-born striker scored in the 33rd minute, maintaining his record of scoring in every away game in the qualifying competition. In the second half Poland was clearly the better side, and had several goal opportunities before, in the 73rd minute, Pawel Kryszalowicz converted a brilliant pass from Marek Kozminski, the team's best player in the game, to give Poland a lead they held until the final whistle. There was more good news for the team from other group matches. Norway drew with Ukraine and Belarus with Armenia, to leave Poland five points clear in the standings over second-placed Belarus. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 1) T.J.