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Leading the way Poland is first European nation to qualify
WARSAW (Reuters) -- Poland became the first European team to reach the World Cup finals through the qualifying competition when it beat Norway 3-0 on Saturday and Belarus lost 2-0 at home to Ukraine. The results mean that Poland, which moved on to 20 points from eight matches, has won Group Five. Ukraine has 13 points from eight games and Belarus 12. Poland last qualified for the finals in 1986 and become the second European team after World Champions France to make sure of its place in next year's finals. Polish striker Pawel Kryszalowicz took advantage of confusion inside the Norwegian penalty box with a neat turn and shot which hit the post and went in seconds before halftime. Nigerian-born marksman Emmanuel Olisadebe scored the second goal in the 76th minute, tapping in Marek Kozminski's cross after the Poles strung together several open-field passes. Substitute Marcin Zewlakow added a third in the 87th minute. Before and during the match, baton-wielding police clashed with Polish hooligans in the stadium after dozens of fans jumped a fence separating spectator sectors and began fighting among themselves. Norwegian fans were not involved.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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