Lazović leveller pegs back Poland

A second-half equaliser from Serbia substitute Danko Lazović cancelled out Radoslaw Matusiak's fine effort and denied Poland a morale-boosting win in UEFA EURO 2008™ Group A.

Improvement required
The Poles began their campaign with a disappointing 3-1 home defeat by Finland on Saturday and, having also failed to make an impact at this summer's FIFA World Cup, urgently needed to improve at the Wojska Polskiego in Warsaw. Leo Beenhakker's side started promisingly, Matusiak turning their early dominance into the opening goal on the half-hour, but a stirring Serbia comeback in the second 45 minutes changed the course of the match.

Polish threat
The home team were the first to threaten, Pawel Golanski drilling in a powerful shot as early as the sixth minute but Vladimir Stojković was equal to the effort, producing a brilliant save. The goalkeeper was back in action midway through the opening period, another fine stop keeping out Ireneusz Jeleń's point-blank strike. Poland's pressure finally paid off in the 30th minute, however, Arkadiusz Radomski finding Matusiak just inside the area and the forward turning to curl the ball into the top corner.

Opportunist finish
Poland continued to look the more likely scorers as the second half got under way, Jeleń missing the target with a fierce attempt before Dejan Stanković began to pull the strings for Serbia. The FC Internazionale Milano midfielder had sent one long-range drive just wide of Wojciech Kowalewski's goal before his next effort caught out the Poland No1, who fumbled into the path of Marko Pantelić and was relieved to see the Serbia striker fail to convert. An equaliser was on the cards and it arrived with 19 minutes remaining, Kowalewski denying Pantelić only for Lazović to turn in the rebound. Both sides are next in action on 7 October, Serbia taking on the Belgians and Poland visiting Kazakhstan.