Poland coach Leo Beenhakker has called Artur Boruc one of the top 10 goalkeepers in the world, and Boruc showed why on Thursday against Austria.The Celtic goalkeeper made a string of spectacular saves in the opening 20 minutes, three times denying Austrian players on what should have been sure goals.“Artur saved us in the first half,” defender Pawel Golanski said. “Only thanks to the fact that Artur was in goal did we not give up a goal early.”In the 11th minute, Austria striker Marcin Harnik swooped in to steal the ball from Poland defender Mariusz Jop and rushed in alone on goal. Boruc charged to cut the angle and made a kick save on Harnik’s low left-footed shot to knock the ball past the left post.Four minutes later, the 28-year old goalkeeper again denied Harnik. The Austrian received a cross in from the left by Umit Korkmaz and shot from five metres, but Boruc blocked the shot with his feet as he fell to his left and then jumped up to kick the ball out of the open goal face.If that wasn’t enough, Boruc again saved his team again the 16th minute. Christoph Leitgeb perfectly timed his run to beat the off side trap, latched onto a through ball and rushed in alone on goal. Boruc charged and smothered the midfielder’s low shot.Poland’s defence, which was also wobbly against Germany in Poland’s opening 2-0 loss, settled down after Roger Guerreiro gave the Poles a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute and Boruc’s workload dropped off. But for all the goalkeeper’s early brilliance, he couldn’t save Poland late. Ivica Vastic was spot on with his injury time penalty, sending the ball to the left corner as Boruc moved the other direction, earning Austria the late 1-1 draw.“It wasn’t enough,” a clearly downcast Boruc said of his performance. “It’s tough to say anything after losing a goal like that in injury time.”
