Kowalczyk the hero for Poland

A late equaliser from Marcin Kowalczyk earned Poland a share of the spoils as they came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Georgia in their UEFA European Under-17 Championship encounter in Roskilde today.

Midfield battle
Both sides began the match nervously and there few openings at either end during the early stages. Neither team could find enough space to play their normal game and the early signs indicated that the match would end in a stalemate.

Szczepan red card
The watching fans had to wait almost 30 minutes before Poland created the first clear-cut chance of the match, as Michal Pedlich escaped his marker down the right but Tomasz Szczepan just failed to make contact with his pin-point cross. Szczepan's afternoon got worse nine minutes later, when he was sent off for a second bookable offence to leave Poland downhearted at half-time.

Poland retreat
Down to ten men and with their confidence waning, Poland surrendered the initiative to Georgia from the start of the second half. Koba Zhorzhikashvili's side wasted no time in making their numerical advantage count, as they took the lead in the 54th minute when Zaali Eliava delivered a magnificent cross for Sandro Iashvili, who elegantly chested the ball down and turned to fire in from close range. The goal signalled a Georgian siege on the Polish goal and Andrzej Zamilski's side were pinned back in their own half for much to the second period.

Late drama
With time running out, and a Georgian victory a virtual certainty, Poland snatched a dramatic equaliser. Kowalczyk got on the end of Krystian Kalinowski's 77th-minute cross and beat keeper Kakhaber Jincharadze from close range.