Matusiak keeps Poles climbing

Stijnen beaten
Belgium coach René Vandereycken took the bold step of fielding goalkeeper Stijn Stijnen, who had broken a finger playing for Club Brugge KV at the weekend, but within 19 minutes Stijnen was picking the ball out of his net. Matusiak, who plays his club football for GKS Bełchatów, scored on his international debut against Serbia last month and here recorded his second goal in four appearances with a neat finish into the bottom corner from ten metres.

Few scoring opportunities
Defender Thomas Vermaelen shot straight at Poland keeper Artur Boruc from 20 metres shortly afterwards but in a game of few opportunities, that was about as close as Belgium came to an equaliser in the first half. At the other end Euzebiusz Smolarek fired wide from the edge of the box on 36 minutes and the same player almost doubled the Polish advantage in the closing stages only for Timmy Simons to block his goalbound effort.

Boruc denies Mpenza
Aiming to avert a second defeat in Group A, Daniel Van Buyten shot wide from just outside the Poland area and Boruc then denied Emile Mpenza a stoppage-time equaliser by keeping out the Belgium striker's attempt. While the hosts were booed off, there was plenty to smile about for Poland coach Leo Beenhakker who saw his charges build on an impressive victory over Portugal last month.