Poland vs Republic of Ireland match report: Irish come up short as defeat send's Martin O'Neill's side into Euro 2016 play-offs

Poland 2 Republic of Ireland 1

Robert Lewandowski shapes to shoot as John O’Shea looks to close him down (EPA)

The prolific Robert Lewandowski was at his brilliant best to break Ireland hearts in Warsaw and leave Martin O’Neill’s side facing a play-off battle to qualify for Euro 2016.

The Bayern Munich striker’s match-winning header gave Poland the 2-1 win that ensured they automatically qualified next year’s finals in France behind Group D winners Germany. Ireland started the day in third place and knew they were at least guaranteed that spot regardless of what happened here. There was no change to Lewandowski’s form, though, and he is now virtually a guarantee of goals.

He has ended this qualification campaign as top scorer, and his 13 goals are a new record.

It certainly felt like a game in which both sides had the insurance of a play-off place before the game even started, as there was no fear about either approach.

It was a brilliant finish  and the striker’s 15th goal in six games

&#13; <p> </p>&#13;

The game began at a blistering pace, with Poland taking the lead after just 13 minutes, with that setting off a frenetic next six minutes.

After John O’Shea had denied Lewandowski in the box with a strong challenge, a Polish corner was sent towards the edge of the area where Grzegorz Krychowiak was waiting and he powered a brilliant low volley past Darron Randolph. While the finish was excellent, the Irish marking was anything but.

Poland had barely finished celebrating, though, when Ireland were level.

Straight from kick-off, Ireland went straight up the other end and won a dubious penalty. Although Michal Pazdan clearly kicked Shane Long in the head as he tried to compete for a loose ball – and was perhaps lucky not to be sent off – the incident happened outside the box. If referee Cuneyt Cakir made a mistake, though, Jon Walters wasn’t going to do the same and he powered the penalty past Lukasz Fabianski.

As the frenzied action continued, Poland then thought they had retaken the lead just a moment later, as Krzysztof Maczynski had the ball in the net, but Lewandowski had strayed offside.

The striker was looking angrily at the linesman again minutes later, as he felt he could have had a penalty when John O’Shea appeared to shove him in the back.

But European football’s most in-form striker was not to be denied for long, as Lewandowski proved his manager Adam Nawalka’s pre-game words correct: when he is on form, he’s impossible to stop.

On 42 minutes, he finally found that minimum of space he needs to maximise a chance, as he powerfully headed home Maczynski’s cross. It was a brilliant finish from a player on top form. That was Lewandowski’s 15th goal in his last six games in all competitions.

But while Ireland had fallen behind again, a 2-2 actually draw would have put them through at the expense of Poland. Head-to-head records are used to decide who finishes higher when teams are level on points. The two teams drew 1-1 in Dublin, so a 2-2 draw in Warsaw would put the Irish through on ‘away’ goals, as it were. The match was still very much on a knife edge.

Nothing really changed in the flow of the game, though, as Poland continued to pour forward and Ireland struggled to stem the tide. Lewandowski contunued to look dangerous and Pazdan threatened with a header that flashed wide.

O’Neill was forced into a shake-up on 55 minutes but, even if Ireland needed one anyway, this would not have been the manager’s choice as Long was taken off injured.

The Southampton striker had received rough treatment athroughout the game and his injury was the consequence of another bruising collision.

Ireland’s top goalscorer, Robbie Keane, came on with Aiden McGeady also replacing Glenn Whelan, and Ireland began to look a little bit more proactive in midfield.

It was still Poland creating the better chances, though, as Kamil Grosicki was slipped through one on one with Randolph, but the West Ham goalkeeper superbly deflected the ball away.

O’Neill was finally forced into the obvious change as Wes Hoolahan came off the bench on 73 minutes, and Ireland at last began to peg Poland back.

First, John O’Shea’s header flew dangerously across the box, before his centre-half partner Richard Keogh immediately went closer, forcing a brilliant save from Fabianski.

O’Shea was eventually forced into a crass challenge on Lewandowski towards the end, bringing a second yellow card for the Sunderland defender. That, it seems, is the only way to stop Europe’s best striker right now.

Ireland must hope for more forgiving opponents in Sunday’s play-off draw.