Montenegro and Poland share the spoils

Montenegro and Poland were both reduced to ten men as the teams played out a 2-2 draw in their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying Group H opener.

The match was six minutes old when Jakub Błaszczykowski opened the scoring, Nikola Drinčić equalising just before the half-hour mark. Mirko Vučinić struck on the stroke of half-time but Montenegro were pegged back after the restart courtesy of Adrian Mierzejewski's effort. The action did not stop there, however, as Savo Pavičević and Ludovic Obraniak both saw red.

Those cold facts only tell half the story of a compelling contest that sparked into life when Robert Lewandowski was fouled in the penalty area by Stefan Savić and Błaszczykowski nonchalantly converted the ensuing spot kick. Going behind only served to fuel Montenegro's desire. Nikola Drinčić was the catalyst for their equalsier, rounding off a buccaneering run with a sweetly-struck finish from 20 metres.

The goalscorer then turned provider, delivering a delicious cross into the path of Vučinić, who swept the ball past Przemysław Tytoń. Undeterred, Poland found a new gear in the second half and hit back when substitute Mierzejewski headed in Błaszczykowski's centre. A red card apiece then followed, with Pavićević dismissed on 69 minutes and Obraniak departing himself soon after.