Wales 2 - Poland 3: Mark Hughes' farewell as Wales manager turned into a wake as their World Cup dreams were shattered by a Polish comeback.
Poland scored three times in the final 19 minutes to destroy a Wales performance that had seen Robert Earnshaw give them a lead that looked to have set up a win as Hughes had been forced into an adventurous approach because of Ryan Giggs' late withdrawal through illness.
But Poland, who had been out-paced and out-played for long spells, grabbed three late goals and an injury-time effort from John Hartson did nothing to dispel the gloom that descended on the Millennium Stadium.
Hughes decided to leave out Hartson upfront and put Earnshaw on from the start. Mark Delaney moved to right back, young James Collins was included at centre half while Jason Koumas played on the left of midfield, with Robbie Savage returning to his central role following suspension.
When Earnshaw was quick to chase in behind Jacek Bak on seven minutes, he was almost rewarded. The Lens defender flicked his header back in the general direction of Jerzy Dudek but it fell well short and Earnshaw was away, only to lash his shot wide of the far post.
Then Gary Speed, who announced his retirement from international football after the match, released Bellamy into space on the left and he saw his fierce shot touched on to the outside of a post by Dudek.
Poland brought on Tomasz Klos at the break for Bak, but Wales were at them from the start with Graig Bellamy driving over from 18 yards. But Poland were looking far more dangerous with Wlodarczyk showing pace of his own and Jacek Krynowek finding too much space.
Wales made the breakthrough on 55 minutes. A quick free-kick from Savage sent Earnshaw scampering into the box, away from Tomasz Hajto and on to clip an angled effort over Dudek.
On 71 minutes Frankowski took advantage of indecision between Danny Gabbidon and Collins to fire past Jones for the equaliser. Nine minutes later disaster struck Wales when Maciej Zurawski smashed a shot into the roof of the net.
It got worse for Wales on 85 minutes when the ball bounced kindly for Krynowek some 20 yards out and lashed into the bottom corner.
WALES: Jones, Delaney, Collins, Gabbidon, Thatcher, Davies, Speed (Hartson 79), Savage, Koumas (Parry 86), Bellamy, Earnshaw. Subs Not Used: Fletcher, Pembridge, Robinson, Oster, Crossley. Booked: Savage, Bellamy. Goals: Earnshaw 55, Hartson 90.
POLAND: Dudek, Rzasa, Kosowski, Baszcyznski, Kaluzny (Mila 68), Bak (Klos 46), Hajto, Krzynowek, Zurawski, Szymkowiak, Wlodarczyk (Frankowski 59). Subs Not Used: Boruc, Bieniuk, Kaczorowski, Zajac. Booked: Szymkowiak. Goals: Frankowski 72, Zurawski 81, Krzynowek 85.
Referee: Alain Sars (France).
