Bosacki the hero as Poles go out on a high

UNDER-PRESSURE Poland coach Pawel Janas saw his side come good in this final Group A game but whether it will keep him in a job remains to be seen.

Certainly, his side showed plenty of fighting spirit after Ronald Gomez had opened the scoring.

The Poles also found an unlikely hero in defender Bartosz Bosacki, who scored both goals — his first for his country.

Both sides had only pride left to play for in sweltering conditions with the temperature posted at 28C in the stadium.

Costa Rica took the lead after 24 minutes when Gomez drove a free-kick through the wall and past Boruc after Paulo Wanchope had been brought down on the edge of the area. Wanchope then scuffed a shot before Poland equalised in the 33rd minute when Bosacki scored from close range with goalkeeper Jose Porras hopelessly positioned.

It was the boost Poland wanted and Maciej Zurawski raced forward in the 43rd minute only for his effort to be blocked by Gabriel Badilla.

Jacek Krzynowek saw his shot diverted by Porras and from the resulting corner Bosacki powered home a header in the 66th minute to leave Costa Rica stunned.

Wanchope thought he had equalised in the 82nd minute only for his effort to be ruled out for an infringement.

So Poland go home with a victory, while Costa Rica have been left to reflect on what might have been.

COSTA RICA: Porras, Drummond (Wallace 70), Gonzalez, Umana, Marin, Bolanos (Saborio 78), Solis, Centeno, Badilla, Wanchope, Gomez (Hernandez 82).

Subs Not Used: Mesen, Fonseca, Bernard, Azofeifa, Sequeira, Nunez, Rodriguez, Alfaro, Martinez.

POLAND: Boruc, Baszczynski, Bak, Bosacki, Zewlakow, Krzynowek, Szymkowiak, Smolarek (Rasiak 85), Radomski (Lewandowski 64), Jelen, Zurawski (Brozek 45).

Subs Not Used: Jop, Gancarczyk, Kosowski, Kuszczak, Mila, Dudka, Giza, Fabianski.

Attendance: 43,000

Referee: Shamsul Maidin (Singapore).