Błaszczykowski edges Poland past Georgia

Jakub Błaszczykowski's 36th-minute strike and a succession of saves by Wojciech Szczęsny earned Poland a narrow friendly success against Georgia.

The Poland captain's goal was the 600th scored by the national team on home soil and settled an even contest in Lubin. It also got the UEFA EURO 2012 co-hosts back to winning ways after a 1-0 loss to France in June.

In a tight contest chances were at a premium in the first half, but Kakha Kaladze came close with a long-range effort that was well saved by Szczęsny, while at the other end Adrian Mierzejewski just cleared the crossbar with a shot from the edge of the area.

Poland enjoyed much the better of the possession, but Georgia were a constant threat on the counterattack and almost broke the deadlock when Shota Grigalashvili's effort whistled past the post. Szczęsny then won a one-on-one duel with David Targamadze.

Moments later Franciszek Smuda's men took the lead after a wonderful exchange between striker Robert Lewandowski and his Borussia Dortmund team-mate Błaszczykowski. Lewandowski might have scored himself after the break, only to fire wide and then see a second attempt thwarted by goalkeeper Giorgi Loria.

Otar Martsvaladze came close to an equaliser for the visitors but his effort from close range was brilliantly saved by Szczęsny. The Arsenal FC goalkeeper was in impressive form three days ahead of the start of the Premier League season, a fact he underlined moments before the final whistle when he parried a fierce strike by substitute Dato Kvirkvelia.