Gareth Bale, out with his national team on the same day as his official farewell to Real Madrid, did not play, nor did Robert Lewandowski, at the centre of all eyes in the summer transfer window for his announced desire to leave Bayern Munich, score in the first match of the Nations League 22/23. It was a competitive match resolved with a hard-fought comeback by Poland against Wales, transformed by goals from Jakub Kaminski and Karol Swiderski in the last 20 minutes of the match.
The two, both coming off the bench, changed the match between the 72nd and 85th minutes. The 19-year-old midfielder, in his second international appearance, was on the pitch on the hour mark to make it 1-1 when he controlled a ball inside the box on a corner and curled a right-footed shot beyond the goalkeeper's reach to level the scores; his team-mate, who came on in the 73rd, made it 2-1 when he latched onto a rebound inside the box from a shot by regular goalscorer Robert Lewandowski.
June 1, 2022
The Bayern striker Barcelona aspire to, present for all 90 minutes on the pitch, was left without a goal, without the skill for which he is one of the most wanted strikers in the world, blocked by the Welsh team for most of the game. It is impossible to do it in full, as he showed in the winning goal or in the fantastic midfield back-heel with which he drove into the penalty area in the 20th minute, thwarted by the intervention of goalkeeper Ward as he shot.
It was their best play - perhaps of all - of Wednesday's clash, with chances for both sides, competitive at all stages and Wales taking the lead early in the second half. Jonny Williams made it 1-0 with a right-footed cross from the edge of the box that looked far less dangerous than it ultimately proved to be for home goalkeeper Kamil Grabara.
The effect the ball took and the difficulty of vision transformed the shot into a goal and forced a comeback for Poland, without Lewandowski's goal or minutes for Bale, both hugging, smiling, in a brief conversation in the centre of the field, after the match was over.
June 1, 2022