Poland vs Republic of Ireland. European Championship Qualifying Group D.
National Stadium, Warsaw.
Monday 12 October 2015 10:03, UK
Republic of Ireland will have to qualify through the play-offs for Euro 2016 after they were beaten 2-1 by Poland.
Martin O'Neill's men went into the game knowing a victory or a score draw of 2-2 or above would guarantee them a spot in France but they failed to repeat their heroics against Germany on Thursday night and finished third in Group D.
Grzegorz Krychowiak hammered Poland into the lead on 13 minutes but Jonathan Walters gave Ireland hope from the penalty spot just two minutes later after Shane Long was fouled.
However, the red hot Robert Lewandowski notched his 15th goal in his last six games in all competitions just before half-time to down Ireland, who had John O'Shea sent-off in stoppage time for a second yellow card.
The result means Poland join Germany as automatic qualifiers.
The draw for the play-offs will take place on Sunday 18 October live on Sky Sports News HQ with the two-legged games scheduled to be played between 12-17 November.
O'Neill made five changes, restoring Glenn Whelan and James McClean after suspension, drafting in Seamus Coleman following his recovery from a hamstring problem and rewarding keeper Darren Randolph and match-winner Long for their efforts on Thursday evening.
The game exploded into life with 13 minutes gone when, after Coleman and O'Shea has combined to repel a foray into the box, the ball fell to Kamil Grosicki, who prompted a good reaction save from Randolph from close range.
Ireland managed only to half-clear the resulting corner to Krychowiak 20 yards out and his sweetly struck low drive sped into the bottom corner with the wrong-footed Randolph helpless.
But the visitors were behind for only three minutes.
Defender Michal Pazdan's high challenge on Long was rash, but television replays suggested it might have occurred outside the box.
Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir nevertheless pointed to the spot and Walters calmly beat keeper Lukasz Fabianski to claim his eight goal in an Ireland shirt.
The Poles saw an 18th-minute Pawel Olkowski strike correctly ruled out for offside as the home side redoubled their efforts, and although the Republic defended stubbornly, they eventually succumbed three minutes before the break.
This time, Olkowski was the provider, picking out Lewandowski with the perfect cross for the in-form striker to power a header past Randolph.
Whelan forced Fabianski into a solid save with a 51st-minute shot from distance after Robbie Brady's enterprising run, but the Stoke midfielder was to depart seven minutes later when he was replaced by Aiden McGeady, and he did so having seen Long carried from the field on a stretcher with what looked like an ankle injury.
Long's departure had prompted Robbie Keane's introduction, but although Ireland were now contesting the game higher up the pitch, that left space behind and Grosicki almost exploited it when he was played in with 65 minutes gone, only for Randolph to block.
Central defender Richard Keogh came close nine minutes from time when he got his head to McGeady's cross, but Fabianski claimed the ball at the second attempt, and Ireland's hopes were gone when O'Shea, who had been cautioned before the break, felled Lewandowski and was dismissed.
