Poland's Under-20 women's national football team beat Benin 4-1 on Friday, completing a perfect group-stage record of three wins from three matches at the Under-20 Women's World Cup.
The result followed earlier wins of 3-0 over Argentina and 2-1 over Mexico. Poland had already secured top spot in Group A before kickoff against Benin, and they finished the group stage with a goal difference of 9-2.
Before the match, Poland head coach Marcin Kasprowicz said there would be no room to rest players, but that the tournament required wisdom in planning strategy, and that this would become clear over time. He said Benin were a team with a lot of tactical difficulties in how they organised their play, and that Poland would look to exploit that.
Grzywinska hat-trick sinks Benin
Poland played well from the start, holding possession for longer periods and spending more time in Benin's half. Early shots came from Oliwia Lapinska, Emilia Sobierajska and Oliwia Zgoda, while Benin created few chances and goalkeeper Hanna Wieczerzak was not called into action.
In the 17th minute, Kinga Wyrwas headed the ball toward goal from a corner, but it went straight into the hands of Benin goalkeeper Larissa Saizonou. Three minutes later Zofia Pagowska made a significant error by failing to control the ball, though Benin's Germaine Honfo fired her resulting chance wide of Poland's goal.
Poland took the lead in the 26th minute. Lapinska's pass after a corner was not clean, but Wyrwas extended it into the path of Zuzanna Grzywinska. The forward, who plays her club football for FC Nurnberg in Germany, struck the ball with her left foot from close range to beat the Benin goalkeeper. Grzywinska nearly added a second goal moments later but could not reach a cross from Jagoda Cyraniak.
Poland doubled their lead in the 31st minute. Grzywinska received a long ball from one of Poland's defenders, ran into the penalty area and squared the ball to Wyrwas, who made it 2-0. Honfo was one of Benin's more threatening players but committed two attacking fouls, and Benin did not manage a single shot on target in the first half.
Second-half goals seal the group-stage sweep
Poland almost scored immediately after the break. Krystyna Flis crossed into Benin's box, Saizonou parried the ball out, and Wyrwas struck the rebound against the crossbar. In the 48th minute Romaine Gandonou had two chances for Benin, both blocked by Polish defenders, before Honfo forced a save from Wieczerzak five minutes later that went out for a corner.
For a stretch of the second half Poland held more of the ball while Benin had more shots. Poland's third goal came in the 63rd minute, when Zuzanna Witek struck the crossbar from distance and Grzywinska converted the rebound to make it 3-0.
Grzywinska completed her hat-trick in the 70th minute, finishing toward the far post after a pass from Inez Sikora and taking her time to pick her spot. Shortly before that goal, Weronika Arasniewicz was injured after landing awkwardly on the pitch.
Grzywinska had a further chance to add a fourth goal of her own, but Saizonou parried her shot clear and no follow-up came. Benin managed only a consolation goal in the 87th minute, when Gandonou beat Wieczerzak from a free kick. Poland won the match 4-1.
What comes next for Poland
Poland do not yet know their next opponent, as they must wait for the rest of the group stage to finish. They will face whichever team finishes third in Group C, D or E.
