Late strike sends Wales to friendly defeat against Poland
Bellamy was on form for Wales but could not find the net
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Wednesday, 11, Feb 2009 08:35
Wales have been beaten 1-0 by Poland in a friendly encounter in Portugal after a goal from Roger Guerreiro ten minutes from full-time.
John Toshack's young side gave a good account of themselves against Poland but could not find a way to get on the scoresheet.
Craig Bellamy passed a late fitness test and captained the side and was a constant threat to the Polish defence.
However, Poland enjoyed the better chances in the opening exchanges of the match. Rafal Murawski and Mariusz Lewandowski both tried their luck from distance but could not find the target.
Lukasz Gargulac was inches away from connecting with a left-wing cross but luckily for Wales he could not stretch to tap into the open goal.
Bellamy then fired up the Welsh. He played a one-two with Gareth Bale, which got him in behind the Polish defence, and chipped the goalkeeper only for Michal Zewlakow to clear the danger.
Joe Ledley then had Wales' best chance of the match which came courtesy of a Bellamy free-kick. The Welsh captain floated the ball in and Ledley managed to loop a header over Lukasz Fabianski only to see his attempt come back off the crossbar.
Poland nearly took the lead just before the break when the ball broke to Robert Lewandowski on the edge of the box but his curling effort was well saved by Wayne Hennessey.
Both sides made a number of substitutions at half-time with Aaron Ramsey impressing in the second half for Wales in particular.
He pulled the strings in the midfield allowing Bale and David Cotterill to provide tantalising crosses from either wing.
Despite Wales' sound play they could not breach the Polish defence, their best chance of the second period came when David Edwards' goal-bound shot was deflected wide.
It was therefore unfortunate for Wales that they fell behind with ten minutes to go. Guerreiro latched on to a long ball and, with time and space, chipped the ball over substitute goalkeeper Boaz Myhill from the edge of the box.
Despite the loss Wales will hope they can take their form into their next World Cup qualifying match against Finland at the end of March.