Poland mark Warsaw milestone with Portugal draw

UEFA EURO 2012 co-hosts Poland played out a goalless draw with fellow finalists Portugal in the first match at Warsaw's new National Stadium.

Nani proved a constant menace for the hosts but he could not find a way past Poland No1 Wojciech Szczęsny, who also had to be alert to keep out Cristiano Ronaldo's second-half free-kick. Poland fashioned a couple of chances of their own late on but had to settle for a goalless draw in front of 55,000 fans.

The visitors started the match on the front foot with Nani drawing the first save out of Szczęsny on four minutes. The Manchester United FC forward tricked his way into the penalty area soon afterwards but his shot was easily saved. The Arsenal FC-based Szczęsny then had to be at his best tip another Nani effort round the post just a minute later as the visitors' pressure increased.

Ronaldo, after firing wide on several occasions, drew another fine save out of Szczęsny before the break but Poland sprung into life at the end of the half with Ludovic Obraniak and Ireneusz Jeleń both testing Rui Patrício. There was time for Nani to go close again in added time but his shot drifted agonisingly wide.

Obraniak's strike from distance nearly gave Franciszek Smuda's side an early second-half lead but Rui Patrício was alert to deny the FC Girondins de Bordeaux midfielder. Ronaldo's 67th-minute free-kick was easily saved by Szczęsny at the other end and although Kamil Grosicki and Adrian Mierzejewski came close late on, both sides had to settle for a draw.

Poland kick off UEFA EURO 2012 against Greece in Warsaw on 8 June while Portugal's first game is against Germany in Lviv a day later.