Happy exit for Poles

Two goals by centre-back Bartosz Bosacki gave Poland a 2-1 victory over Costa Rica in their final Group A game on Tuesday and sent a huge Polish support home with some consolation for an early World Cup exit.

Two goals by centre-back Bartosz Bosacki gave Poland a 2-1 victory over Costa Rica in their final Group A game on Tuesday and sent a huge Polish support home with some consolation for an early World Cup exit.

A Ronald Gomez free kick put Costa Rica in front against the run of play in the 24th minute before Bosacki got on the end of corners from Maciej Zurawski and Jacek Krzynowek either side of half time.

They were Bosacki’s first goals in international football.

Poland coach Pawel Janas was understandably chuffed with the victory following calls from home for him to resign after their early exit.

“We scored through the set-pieces. We had been criticised because we couldn’t score through set-pieces. Today we did. I’m very happy. It was very hot today and I’m glad the team responded to my tactics,” he said.

Both teams head home after defeats by Ecuador and Germany in their first two games in the finals Group A.

Roared on by a 43,000 sellout crowd overwhelmingly dominated by their colourful and loud fans, the Poles had started confidently on a hot and humid afternoon, stroking the ball around well in midfield.

But they lacked the urgency that marked their brave performance against Germany last week and apart from some incisive runs by Ireneusz Jelen, they struggled to press the Costa Rican defence early on.

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That all changed after Gomez gave Costa Rica the lead with a free kick from 20 metres out, drilled through a hole in Poland’s wall and between the legs of goalkeeper Artur Boruc.Patrick Graham