The match was played in Gdańsk. Coach Nina Patalon made three changes to the lineup compared to the first match. From the beginning, Milena Kokosz played on the left defense, Patrycja Sarapata in the midfield and Weronika Zawistowska on the wing.
Goal from a corner kick
In the 10th minute, winger Paulina Tomasiak ran inside and took a shot from outside the penalty area with her left foot, which was saved by Lowiese Seynhaeve. After a while, Tomasiak crossed the ball into the penalty area to Pajor, who headed it, but Seynhaeve headed the ball under the crossbar.
Goalkeeper Kinga Seweryn saved the Polish team in the 24th minute when Mariam Toloba headed in a cross from the right wing.
The Poles wasted a great opportunity in the 41st minute. After Ewelina Kamczyk's cross from a corner kick, Paulina Dudek and Weronika Zawistowska scored headers, but Seynhaeve intervened twice.
The White and Reds took the lead after another corner kick. Pajor performed well in a crowded penalty area and scored her 72nd goal for the national team. The Barcelona striker could have followed suit when she hit the crossbar after a while. The Poles were leading 1-0 until the break.
The Polish women respond to the Belgian goal
The Belgians equalized at the beginning of the second half. After a long pass from Wullaert from a free kick, the ball reached Amy Littel, who beat Seweryn.
Then, after a corner kick, Tomasiak withdrew the ball to Kamczyk, who was waiting in front of the penalty area, who shot without receiving it and scored a goal. However, it was disallowed because the referee assessed that Oliwia Woś interfered with the Belgian goalkeeper.
The Poles were leading again from the 67th minute when Tomasiak ran down the right wing, ran inside and shot into the bottom right corner of the goal. Coach Nina Patalon's players did not want to wait for overtime and were looking for another goal. The Belgian goalkeeper had to intervene after shots by Pajor, Milena Kokosz and Paulina Dudek.
Seweryn punched Elena Dhont's dangerous cross, which averted the danger. A one-goal lead after 90 minutes meant extra time.
Overtime resulted in a draw, many emotions in the penalty shootout
At the end of the first part of overtime, Wullaert crossed from a free kick, and Jarne Teulings scored with a header to make it 2-2. However, the Polish women fought until the end. In the 116th minute, Kamczyk passed to Pajor, who passed the goalkeeper and scored her 73rd goal for the national team. The result 3-2 meant a series of penalty kicks had to be played.
Although Pajor made a mistake from 11 meters, the Poles were leading 2-1 after three series, as Seweryn saved two shots. Ultimately, the Poles won 4-3, and the last penalty was converted by Natalia Padilla-Bidas.
The Polish women will face the winner of the Ireland-Kazakhstan two-legged match. The Irish won the first match 8-0.
Before the match, former Polish representatives Aleksandra Rompa (nee Sikora) and Patrycja Balcerzak were recognized on the pitch, among others. souvenir T-shirts. The first lady, Marta Nawrocka, and Jerzy Brzęczek, coach of the men's under-21 national team, were present at the stadium in Gdańsk.
Poland - Belgium 3:2 (2:1, 1:0), penalties 4-3Poland - Belgium 3:2 (2:1, 1:0), penalties 4-3
Goals: 1:0 Ewa Pajor (42), 1:1 Amy Littel (51), 2:1 Paulina Tomasiak (67), 2:2 Jarne Teulings (105), 3:2 Ewa Pajor (116)
Yellow cards - Poland: Paulina Tomasiak, Paulina Dudek. Belgium: Amber Tysiak, Isabelle Iliano.
Referee: Ivana Martincić (Croatia).
Poland: Kinga Seweryn - Wiktoria Zieniewicz, Oliwia Woś, Paulina Dudek, Milena Kokosz - Adriana Achcińska, Patrycja Sarapata (110. Magdalena Sobal), Ewelina Kamczyk - Paulina Tomasiak, Ewa Pajor, Weronika Zawistowska (65. Aleksandra Zaremba, 110. Natalia Padilla).
Belgium: Lowiese Seynhaeve - Sari Kees (46. Amy Littel), Amber Tysiak, Zenia Mertens, Saar Janssen (70. Luna Vanzeir) - Marie Detruyer (70. Isabelle Iliano), Janice Cayman, Mariam Toloba (91. Jarne Teulings) - Jill Janssens (85. Jasmien Mathys), Tessa Wullaert, Elena Dhont (120. Lore Jacobs).
