Second-string Wales let lead slip against Poland

Poland came from behind to dispatch a second-string Welsh team in the first game of the UEFA Nations League.

With all eyes on Sunday’s World Cup qualifying game against either Scotland or Ukraine, Rob Page unsurprisingly named a second-string Wales side.

Yet they put in a solid performance at the Miejski Wroclaw stadium against a Poland team featuring Robert Lewandowski up top.

Wales took the lead seven minutes into the second half. Substitute Rabbi Matondo driving at the heart of the Polish defence in the build-up before the ball came to Jonny Williams. The Swindon Town man sent in a fiercely accurate strike from outside the area that beat the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper.

Poland looked frustrated but they eventually found an equaliser in the 72nd minute through Jakub Kaminski, who did well to find space in the Wales box and put his shot past Wayne Hennessey.

The home side took the lead late on and Page won’t have been impressed with his side’s defending. Matondo, who had looked lively going forward, passed back towards his defence. The ball was intercepted leading to a scramble in the area that Wales failed to clear and Karol Swiderski was in the right place to finish from close range.

Wales won’t be happy with the result, and they certainly had some bright moments, but they would trade in a defeat today for a World Cup qualifying win on Sunday.

FT | 🇵🇱 2-1 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Sgôr Terfynol.

It's all over in Wrocław. A tough defeat after playing so well.

💻 Watch live: https://t.co/IjV101j6Th#TogetherStronger | #POLWAL pic.twitter.com/5d7xu8sCFR

— Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@Cymru) June 1, 2022