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CHOKER FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

Birmingham City goalkeeper Maik Taylor made a string of superb saves but could
not rescue Northern Ireland from defeat as they went down 1-0 in their World
Cup qualifier with Poland.
It was all going according to plan until three minutes from time.

That was when Maciej Zurawski made the breakthrough as he headed home a cross
from Miroslaw Szymkowiak.

Blues keeper Taylor was left with a feeling of disbelief after a tremendous one-
man show.

Manager Lawrie Sanchez made three changes to the side that lost 4-0 to England
at the weekend.

Perhaps the most surprising name in the team was defender Mark Williams, now on
loan at lowly Rushden & Diamonds from MK Dons.

Williams linked up at the back against Poland alongside Aaron Hughes and Colin
Murdock.

Aston Villa midfielder Steven Davis was recalled in the absence of Damien
Johnson through suspension and was winning his second cap.

James Quinn of Sheffield Wednesday partnered David Healy up front after missing
the England game because of a ban.

More than 800 Northern Ireland fans were in the Legia Warsaw stadium, hoping to
see an improved performance from the team and they were not disappointed.

Taylor was tested in the fifth minute when he did well to tip over a powerful
25-yard free-kick from Zurawski.

The atmosphere was electric with a 32,000 capacity crowd expected, but the
visitors nearly took a shock lead in the 13th minute.

Quinn rattled in a volley that was heading for the corner but Liverpool
goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek reacted superbly to turn the shot away.

That got the Northern Ireland fans going, following good work from Chris Baird
and Keith Gillespie in the build-up.

Poland again found themselves on the back foot in the 17th minute when they
conceded a free-kick 30 yards out.

Healy’s free-kick eluded everyone and drifted narrowly wide of the post with
Quinn just failing to get a vital touch.

Considering their record in the group, Northern Ireland were playing with no
little confidence in the early stages.

Quinn picked up the first yellow card of the game in the 21st minute following
a clash with Jacek Bak.

Taylor came to the rescue in the 26th minute when he somehow managed to parry a
header from Zurawski following a cross from Marcin Baszczynski.

Three minutes later Taylor made another fine save when he scooped away a close-
range shot by Jacek Krzynowek.

This was a worrying time for Northern Ireland and Hughes booted the ball clear
after an inswinging cross from Bartosz Karwan in the 34th minute.

A minute later Quinn was replaced by new Luton Town striker Warren Feeney after
he apparently suffered a back spasm.

Healy then went in the book after a challenge on Tomasz Rzasa.

Poland were beginning to raise the tempo and Tomasz Frankowski found space in
the area after 53 minutes.

He fired in a shot but Hughes stood his ground to make a crucial block at a
vital time.

Jeff Whitley became the third Northern Ireland player to be booked for tripping
Krzynowek.

There was no lack of effort from the visitors and they were looking well
organised.

Taylor had to be on the alert in the 56th minute when Bak tried to lob him from
the halfway line.

He was not far away either with the Birmingham stop-stopper blocking his effort
with a bit of difficulty.

Taylor was again called into action after 61 minutes and was not found wanting,
getting down quickly to smother a shot from Karwan.

The Poles were looking rattled and Murdock became the fourth Northern Ireland
player to go in the book when he bundled over Dudek in the 65th minute.

The crowd were becoming frustrated and their anxiety seemed to spread to the
pitch.

Sebastian Mila was drafted in after 67 minutes and got quickly into the action
when firing in a shot a minute later.

Taylor, not for the first time in the game, stayed focussed and made the block.

He then turned away a shot from Tomasz Frankowski after he had been released by
Mila in the 72nd minute.

Chris Baird became the fifth Northern Ireland player to be booked for a
challenge on Krzynowek a minute later.

Healy was tiring and replaced by Andy Smith in the 82nd minute.

Poland then secured the points with three minutes to go. It was a cruel blow
for Northern Ireland who had defended so stoutly.