Date:21/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/21/stories/2006062111642300.htm

Sport

Bosacki brace gives Poland consolation win

Costa Rica heads home after losing all three matches

HANOVER: Bartosz Bosacki scored twice on Tuesday to lead Poland to a 2-1 win over Costa Rica in the teams' final game of the World Cup.

Both teams had already been knocked out of the tournament after losses to Germany and Ecuador in earlier Group `A' matches.

Striker Ronald Gomez gave Costa Rica the lead in the 25th minute when he hit a left-footed free kick from 20 yards past the wall and Poland goalkeeper Artur Boruc.

Gomez then handed the Costa Ricans a chance to make it 2-0 when he skipped clear of two defenders to feed an unmarked Paulo Wanchope at the edge of the area. But Boruc easily smothered Wanchope's weak right-footed shot.

Restoring parity

Bosacki levelled the score eight minutes later.

Costa Rica goalkeeper Jose Porras stumbled trying to punch a corner out, and the ball fell to Bosacki, who sidefooted it in.

Poland had another solid opportunity just before half-time, but this time Porras pushed midfielder Jacek Krzynowek's dipping free kick from 25 yards wide of the post. Bosacki gave the Poles the lead in the 66th, rising above Wanchope to head in a corner from Krzynowek.

Wanchope, who is Costa Rica's all-time leading scorer, almost levelled the game in the last moments when he flicked the ball past Boruc but the striker was offside.

Under-pressure Polish coach Pawel Janas said that he was happy the team was returning home having got one win under their belts.

``It would have been a pity to go home without any points or goals,'' said the 53-year-old, who was a member of the side that reached the 1982 World Cup semifinals.

Janas, who has been in charge since 2003, added he had not decided on his future as of yet, though, there have been many calls for him to resign.

``I have not thought about resigning and I am not going to take a decision right now,'' said Janas.

Bosacki, who plays for Lech Poznan in Poland, wasn't originally named in Janas' 23-man squad. He joined the team after Damian Gorawski dropped out because of circulatory and respiratory system problems. Poland also won its last game at the 2002 World Cup after it was already eliminated, having lost its first two matches.

Thousands of Poles made the short trip to neighbouring Germany to support their team. They dominated the crowd in Hanover, festooning the stadium with red-and-white Polish flags and chanting ``Poland! Poland!'' — AP