Pawel powers Poland to big win

FOUR goals from veteran striker Pawel Kryszalowicz powered an under-strength Poland to a 6-0 victory over Ireland’s World Cup qualifier opponents Faroe Islands in a friendly international in Spain on Saturday.

Kryszalowicz opened the scoring in the ninth minute and added three more inside four minutes before half-time, courtesy of good work from Wisla Krakow forward Maciej Zurawski and a series of errors from the Faroe defence. The Poles scored twice more in a scrappy second half to cruise to a seventh consecutive win, unhindered by the absence of their foreign-based contingent, who returned to their clubs after Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Slovenia in San Fernando.

Poland missed out on Euro 2004 qualifying behind Sweden and Latvia, but a rejuvenated young squad have since beaten Italy and Serbia.