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14 June 2002, 22:22 Seoul - Tokyo

POLAND 3 : 1 USA

The United States suffered defeat at the hands of Poland at Daejeon World Cup Stadium in Korea Friday but still advanced to the second round thanks to Korea Republic's victory over Portugal (0:1). USA will next face Mexico in the round of 16, while Korea will take on Italy.

Poland, who were eliminated before the match even started, jumped ahead early on goals by Emmanuel Olisadebe and Pawel Kryszalowicz, and Maciej Murawski added his name to the score sheet in the second half. Landon Donovan scored the lone goal in the closing minutes for the USA.

Match facts

With nothing to play for, Poland stunned everyone with two goals in the opening five minutes. From a corner kick, Emmanuel Olisadebe had a header blocked by a United States defender, but the ball was never cleared by the defence and Olisadebe had another crack, this time striking it off the underside of the crossbar for the early goal (1:0, 3’).

Just after the U.S. had a potential equaliser from Landon Donovan disallowed when the referee Mr. Lu Jun called him for pushing, Poland doubled their lead. Jacek Krzynowek crossed into the area from the left side, and Pawel Kryszalowicz met the ball at the goal box, sending a first-time shot past Friedel at the near post (2:0, 5’).

Aside from the disallowed header from Donovan, the U.S. had their first good chance when Brian McBride had a 12-metre header saved by goalkeeper Radoslaw Majdan after Earnie Stewart’s corner kick (10’).

Poland were nearly ahead three goals, but were denied twice by Friedel, who had help from his right post. Krzynowek ran onto a deflected pass in the area, but the U.S. keeper saved his 10-metre drive. Friedel left a rebound for Maciej Zurawski, who sent a shot to the middle of the net only to have the sliding keeper get back in time to deflect the ball off his post and away (30’).

A long-range shot from U.S. midfielder John O’Brien tested Majdan after deflecting off two different defenders, but the keeper was able to get down and make the stop (40’).

Poland attacked at the outset of the second half as they had in the first, but this time Friedel was up to the task, stopping the threat before a shot could be taken.

Soon, though, Poland were back on the defensive, content to wait for the counter. And it was a counter-attack that resulted in their third goal. A Kryszalowicz shot was deflected out for a corner kick and Marcin Zewlakow finished with a near-post header to increase Poland’s margin to three (3:0, 66’).

The U.S. came back with their best chance when Claudio Reyna chipped into the penalty area for Donovan, who dropped a pass back to Joe-Max Moore, whose 12-metre drive was stopped valiantly by Majdan. Clint Mathis chipped the rebound over the bar (67’).

After U.S. defender Tony Sanneh took down Kryszalowicz, Poland were given an opportunity to put the game totally out of reach from the penalty spot. But Friedel, who had already denied a Korean penalty kick in their earlier meeting, dived left to stop Zurawski (76’).

Mathis then came close when he got on the end of a Cobi Jones cross at the back post but banged his shot off the near post (82’). Moments later, the U.S. had finally broken through. Mathis flicked a header to his left where Donovan placed a right-foot volley into the right-side netting (3:1, 83’).


Source:  FIFAWorldCup.com


   
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