With the two sides locked on points at kick-off in what felt like a race to finish in second spot behind the Dutch, this clash took on extra significance for Poland and Finland.
Home advantage was Poland’s trump card, and they set about making use of that inside the opening 10 minutes when Przemyslaw Wisniewski powered a header towards the bottom corner, but a stunning save from Jesse Joronen kept the scores level.
Aerial bombardment was proving to be a profitable route for the Poles, who carved out another clear-cut chance from a cross midway through the half. Piotr Zielinski was the creator, planting a perfect cross onto the head of Wisniewski, which this time he guided narrowly wide of the post.
It was a defensive error which yielded Poland’s opener, though. Jakub Kaminski’s dogged defensive work forced an error in the Finnish backline, and after he cut the ball back for Matty Cash, the Aston Villa full-back arrowed home his second goal in as many internationals.
Jan Urban’s men were dominant in the first half, and deservedly doubled their advantage on the stroke of HT. Zielinski’s delicate ball over the top sent Robert Lewandowski racing clear on goal, and the Barcelona man made no mistake in coolly slotting an effort beyond the onrushing Joronen.
Knowing any potential third goal was key in this game, Finland sprung out of the traps after HT, but in trying to get back into the game, they inadvertently aided Poland in placing it beyond their reach.
With the Finns piling into the area to get on the end of a Nikolai Alho long throw, they left themselves desperately short at the back, and although Joronen was on hand to repel Lewandowski’s initial effort, Kaminski tapped home the rebound to round off a clinical Poland counter attack.
The visitors huffed and puffed at times, but their distinct lack of quality was laid bare for all to see when Alho’s 25-yard free-kick deflected off the wall and into the grateful hands of Lukasz Skorupski.
Perhaps knowing the game was up, both sides played out something of a non-event in the closing stages, akin to that of 22 players keen not to get injured before returning to their respective clubs.
Finland did snatch a late consolation through Benjamin Kallman, but that didn’t prevent Poland from moving into the driving seat for a top-two finish, with the Poles now level on points with the Netherlands at the summit, albeit having played a game more.
Speaking to Finnish television after the match, visiting head coach was clear on where his side came up well short in their key qualifier: "One; We couldn't get behind the line. Two; You can't give away such easy goals at this level," Friis said.
