Karol Swiderski’s second-half winner sent Wales into the Nations League after an emphatic 1-0 home defeat in Cardiff.
The Charlotte FC striker – who also scored the winner in the reverse fixture in June – beat Robert Lewandowski’s superb flick past Wayne Hennessey 12 minutes after half-time and Poland’s future in League A of the Nations League is another cycle.
Wales fielded an attacking line-up, led by captain Gareth Bale, but rarely faced Wojciech Szczesny with serious problems, despite knowing that only a win would allow Poland to leapfrog and compete. will be enough to maintain their place on the top table.
Dan James was denied the best chance twice in quick succession in the opening 45 minutes before Brennan Johnson saw Fulham’s Looney inadvertently push his goalbound effort wide.
Bale flicked a header over the bar in added time as Wales rallied late on, but it was too little, too late to avoid a return to League B after just one tournament in the Nations League top tier.
How Wales succumbed to despair ahead of the World Cup.
Wales’ win-or-break situation was echoed by an attack-minded side named by Page, with Bale leaning on the pace of Johnson and James to try to catch Poland out on the break.
But the visitors, knowing a point would be enough to keep them in League A, were in no rush to take control of the game and instead focused on frustrating their hosts, whose only moment of joy came at half-time. Before came a sharp counter. -Attack.
