Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick on his 170th appearance for Poland as Jan Urban’s side swept aside Romania 6-0 at Warsaw’s PGE Narodowy on Friday, recording their first victory of the new UEFA Nations League campaign and moving back into contention in Group B4. The result leaves Poland third with four points, one behind Bosnia and Herzegovina and three behind group leaders Sweden.
Romania initially caused problems for the hosts, forcing goalkeeper Marcin Bułka into several early saves, but the match changed decisively midway through the first half.
In the 22nd minute, Radu Drăgușin brought down Lewandowski after Sebastian Szymański had sent the Polish captain into the penalty area. The Romanian defender was shown a straight red card and Lewandowski converted the resulting penalty two minutes later. It was his 90th goal for Poland.
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Poland went into half-time only 1-0 ahead despite creating further chances, including a powerful Przemysław Frankowski effort that struck the crossbar.
Poland overwhelm 10-man Romania
The match was effectively decided within minutes of the restart.
Nicola Zalewski beat his defender on the left and pulled the ball back for Lewandowski, who scored from close range in the 47th minute. Two minutes later, Romania defender Virgil Ghiță turned Frankowski’s cross into his own net to make it 3-0.
Piotr Zieliński added a fourth in the 62nd minute after taking advantage of a defensive mistake by Răzvan Marin, before Jan Bednarek headed in Sebastian Szymański’s corner four minutes later.
Lewandowski completed the scoring in the 86th minute, working his way through the Romanian defence before finishing for his third of the night.
The three goals took the striker’s international total to 92 goals in 170 appearances. It was his first hat-trick for Poland since scoring three times against Latvia in October 2019.
The Polish Football Association’s match report confirmed the final scoring sequence: Lewandowski in the 24th, 47th and 86th minutes, Ghiță’s own goal in the 49th, Zieliński in the 62nd and Bednarek in the 66th.
Lewandowski suspended for Bosnia match
There was one significant drawback for Poland.
Lewandowski was booked in the 42nd minute and will therefore miss Monday’s Nations League match away to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica through suspension.
That fixture has become important to Poland’s hopes of climbing the group.
Sweden remain top of Group B4 with seven points after drawing 1-1 away to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday. Bosnia are second with five points, Poland have four and Romania remain bottom without a point after three matches.
Under the Nations League format, the Group B4 winner earns direct promotion to League A, while the second-placed side goes into a promotion play-off.
Poland had begun the campaign with a 0-0 home draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina before losing 3-1 in Sweden. The emphatic win against Romania therefore represents a significant turnaround after an uncertain opening to the competition. UEFA’s official fixture record confirms Poland’s opening results and remaining Group B4 schedule.
Poland now travel to Zenica on Monday before completing their group campaign in November with matches away to Romania and at home to Sweden.
