Kasprowicz rues missed chances after Poland exit

Poland’s women’s under-20 team have been knocked out of the World Cup on home soil after a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the last 16, with head coach Marcin Kasprowicz lamenting the way a controlled performance ended in elimination.

Strong group stage, abrupt end in knockout round

The hosts had reached the knockout phase on the back of an impressive group campaign, recording wins over Argentina, Mexico and Benin. That form had raised hopes of a place in the quarter-finals, but Colombia ended Poland’s run at the first hurdle of the knockout stage.

According to the match summary, Poland had the upper hand for much of the contest but were unable to turn that territorial control into a decisive advantage in front of goal. That failure to make pressure count proved costly late on.

Late setback decides the tie

The decisive moment came in the 89th minute, when Poland lost the ball near their own penalty area. Colombia broke forward, the ball was played into the box and then deflected off Martyna Bartczak into the net.

Poland pushed for an equaliser after going behind, but could not find a route back into the match. The result means the home side’s tournament is over in the round of 16.

Kasprowicz: control was not enough

Speaking afterwards to TVP Sport, Kasprowicz said his side had largely controlled the game but were punished by a single opposition chance. He also pointed to the cruel nature of the goal, describing it as another own goal and an unusual situation.

The Poland coach made clear, however, that misfortune was only part of the story. In his view, the bigger issue was the inability to take key opportunities, including one from a corner that he felt had to be converted. That, he said, ultimately came back to hurt his team.

Kasprowicz also highlighted problems with the final ball. While he felt Poland had occupied the penalty area well, he said Colombia’s defenders protected the box effectively and that the quality of deliveries into dangerous areas needed to be better.

Why changes came late

One of the talking points after the match was the timing of Poland’s substitutions. Kasprowicz explained that his staff had prepared for the possibility of extra time and wanted to manage physical loads with that scenario in mind.

Instead, the game was settled before extra time could arrive, leaving Poland to reflect on a performance that contained encouraging football but no reward. Kasprowicz summed up the mood as one of deep disappointment, saying that attractive play had not produced the result the team wanted and that a single, accidental moment had sent them home.

What comes next

Poland’s exit ends their involvement in the home tournament before the quarter-final stage. Colombia, meanwhile, will face Nigeria for a place in the last four after Nigeria’s emphatic 3-0 win over England.

• Poland were eliminated in the Women’s Under-20 World Cup last 16.
• Colombia won the match 1-0.
• The deciding goal came in the 89th minute via a deflection off Martyna Bartczak.
• Before the defeat, Poland had beaten Argentina, Mexico and Benin in the group stage.