Soccer: Bosacki double sends Poles home happy

HANOVER - Two goals by centre-back Bartosz Bosacki gave Poland a 2-1 victory over Costa Rica in their final Group A game this morning and sent a huge Polish support home with some consolation for an early World Cup exit.

A Ronald Gomez free kick put Costa Rica in front against the run of play in the 24th minute before Bosacki got on the end of corners from Maciej Zurawski and Jacek Krzynowek either side of half time.

They were Bosacki's first goals in international football.

Poland coach Pawel Janas was understandably chuffed with the victory following calls from home for him to resign after their early exit.

"We scored through the set-pieces. We had been criticised because we couldn't score through set-pieces. Today we did. I'm very happy. It was very hot today and I'm glad the team responded to my tactics," he told German television.

Both teams head home after defeats by Ecuador and Germany in their first two games in the finals Group A.

Roared on by a 43,000 sellout crowd overwhelmingly dominated by their colourful and loud fans, the Poles had started confidently on a hot and humid afternoon, stroking the ball around well in midfield.

But they lacked the urgency that marked their brave performance against Germany last week and apart from some incisive runs by Ireneusz Jelen, they struggled to press the Costa Rican defence early on.

That all changed after Gomez gave Costa Rica the lead with a free kick from 20m out, drilled through a hole in Poland's wall and between the legs of goalkeeper Artur Boruc.

The Poles poured forward more aggressively and finally got their reward for six first half corners when Bosacki volleyed home off the bar in the 33rd minute.

The goal was the Poles' first at the finals.

Bosacki grabbed his second with a powerful header from close range after climbing above Paulo Wanchope to connect with a corner in the 66th minute.

Janas had added some extra pep up front at the break, introducing youngster Pawel Brozek for Celtic's Maciej Zurawski, the Poles' biggest name before the finals and a disappointment in all three games.

Brozek and Jelen looked lively but the Poles continued to be let down by poor delivery from dead ball situations and the failure of the midfield to get forward in support.

Jacek Krzynowek also went close with a long-range left-foot drive, but other than set-pieces, the Poles had little to show for their dominance.

- REUTERS