Jancyzk ignites Polish campaign

Dawid Jancyzk scored a memorable hat-trick as UEFA Under-19 European Championship hosts Poland threw Group A wide open with a fine 4-1 win against Belgium.

Lamah consolation
In the build-up to the game Belgian coach Marc Van Geersom had said he was looking forward to seeing the man dubbed 'the new Zbigniew Boniek' but he might reconsider that opinion after an awesome performance by Jancyzk. The striker broke the deadlock on ten minutes and it proved a sign of things to come as Belgium struggled to keep him in check. He doubled the Polish lead before half-time and had completed his hat-trick by the time Roland Lamah struck a 62nd-minute consolation. Right-back Artur Marciniak restored the three-goal cushion late on.

Belgium recover
The result leaves all four Group A sides on three points ahead of Sunday's decisive matches, when Belgium meet Austria as the hosts face the Czech Republic. The Czechs have reason for concern after Jancyzk proved unstoppable in front of 2,500 spectators in Wronki, firing his side ahead early on after turning his marker and rifling past the outstretched hand of Davino Verhulst. The goal shook the Belgians but having defeated the Czechs 4-2 in their opening fixture, they soon rallied.

Jancyzk rampant
Steve Deridder came a fraction away from equalising on the half-hour mark but could not connect with a right-wing cross, while the lively Lamah finally forced Przemysław Tytoń into his first meaningful save with a shot from distance. At the other end Jancyzk remained a threat, beating two defenders and drawing a good save from Verhulst. The goalkeeper was helpless two minutes before half-time, however, when Jancyzk let fly with an astonishing shot from the tightest of angles.

Polish advantage
The Legia Warsawa forward added a third after the restart, holding off Daan Van Gijseghem to latch on to a lovely pass over the top and slot the ball past Verhulst. Lamah provided some respite when he reduced the deficit just after the hour, drilling a low shot across the goalkeeper after running into space on the left flank, but the match was to end in more misery for Belgium as Marciniak restored the three-goal cushion. It could prove decisive in terms of goal difference with the Poles currently top of Group A and Belgium in third position.