Poland and Georgia take honours
Friday, October 31, 2014
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Poland and Georgia are through to the elite round after advancing from the last qualifying round mini-tournament to finish, Group 2, at Estonia and Liechtenstein's expense.
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Poland and Georgia are through to the UEFA European Under-17 Championship elite round after advancing from the last qualifying round mini-tournament to finish, Group 2.
- Kamil Wojtkowski scored twice in the first 12 minutes and Hubert Adamczyk added two more at the death as Poland defeated Estonia 4-0.
- Hosts Georgia, who like Poland reached the 2012 semi-finals, won 3-0 against Liechtenstein
- Poland produced another 4-0 victory, against Liechtenstein, Wojtkowski again converting a penalty.
- Georgia fell behind to Estonia but came back to prevail 2-1 thanks to Nika Ninua's 79th-minute goal.
- Georgia had substitute Giorgi Kokhreidze sent off for two stoppage-time yellow cards but they were still through with Poland.
- Estonia had the consolation of beating Liechtenstein 2-0 with goals from Fulham FC prospect Mattias Käit, who also struck against Georgia.
- Poland took first place courtesy of Dominik Prusaczyk's strike against Georgia.
- Wojtkowski, who missed the last game injured, and Arabidze both stood out for Poland.
Reaction:
Robert Wojcik, Poland coach
The first two matches of the tournament were difficult because we attacked a lot and there were opening for our opponents to counter. But a few of our team's moves were very good.
The last match was most difficult. We thought that it would be this way. We knew that in the last game of the tournament players would be tired. Georgia are a physically stronger team and there are some very good technically accomplished players. We had a lot of chances, but we were not clinical and only exploited one counterattack, which was very good. The result could have bene different becouse of our opponents' ability.
You can win an individual match with a good attack, but over the whole tournament a good defence is very important. We will try to do the same in the next round.
Gocha Tkebuchava, Georgia coach
I thought that today opponent would play much better then us, but now I think my players were good. We deserved at least a draw, but lost. Poland looked stronger in other games.
For the last match we made some changes in the squad including the goalkeeper, but tiredness was more clear in the centre of midfield. I think everything was logical, Poland deserved first place.
Through to elite round
Group 1: Scotland, Republic of Ireland
Group 2: Poland, Georgia
Group 3: Italy, Iceland
Group 4: England (holders), France
Group 5: Sweden, Greece, Ukraine*
Group 6: Portugal, Slovenia, Northern Ireland*
Group 7: Croatia, Hungary, Israel*
Group 8: Netherlands, Serbia
Group 9: Austria, Norway
Group 10: Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Azerbaijan*
Group 11: Spain, Slovakia
Group 12: Czech Republic, Romania
Group 13: Russia, Belarus, Wales*
Bye: Germany
*Best third-placed
Draw: 10.40CET, 3 December, involving 32 sides, of which 15 will join Bulgaria in the finals.