Poland scored two late goals to avoid an embarrassing draw with 131st-ranked Latvia in their Euro 2020 qualifier.
Poland, ranked 20th, were in the top tier of teams in the Nations League, while Latvia were in the bottom tier.
The visitors won none of their six games in that competition against Georgia, Kazakhstan and Andorra.
But they looked set for a famous point until Robert Lewandoski headed in with 14 minutes left, before Kamil Glik added a second.
Poland are the seeded team in Group G, while Latvia are the lowest-ranked side in a group that also contains Macedonia, Israel, Slovenia and Austria.
The hosts were expected to win comfortably against a side who had won just two of their previous 26 matches, with those victories coming against Estonia and Andorra.
Poland did dominate, with 23 shots, 14 corners and 72% possession, but it took Lewandowski’s late intervention to break the deadlock against a team who have lost to the likes of Macedonia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Gibraltar in the past 12 months.
Poland had been affected by illness in the build-up, with eight players – including influential Napoli forward Arkadiusz Milik – affected.
Elsewhere in the group, Israel beat Austria 4-2 and Slovenia drew 1-1 with Macedonia.
Line-ups
Poland
- 1Szczesny
- 19KedzioraBooked at 69mins
- 15Glik
- 2Pazdan
- 13Reca
- 20Zielinski
- 10Krychowiak
- 14KlichSubstituted forBlaszczykowskiat 62′minutes
- 11GrosickiSubstituted forFrankowskiat 83′minutes
- 9Lewandowski
- 23PiatekBooked at 25minsSubstituted forMilikat 87′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Jedrzejczyk
- 4Cionek
- 5Gumny
- 6Góralski
- 7Milik
- 8Linetty
- 12Skorupski
- 16Blaszczykowski
- 17Kadzior
- 18Szymanski
- 21Frankowski
- 22Fabianski
Latvia
- 23Steinbors
- 18SavalnieksSubstituted forGabovsat 80′minutes
- 4Dubra
- 3Oss
- 2MaksimenkoBooked at 53mins
- 8Laizans
- 13Isajevs
- 9IkaunieksBooked at 73mins
- 15Rakels
- 11KarasausksSubstituted forTobersat 85′minutes
- 22GutkovskisSubstituted forUldrikisat 70′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Vanins
- 5Kurakins
- 6Gabovs
- 7Rugins
- 10Sabala
- 12Ikstens
- 14Tobers
- 16Zulevs
- 17Tarasovs
- 19Jagodinskis
- 20Uldrikis
- 21Cernomordijs
- Referee:
- Aliyar Aghayev
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home72%
- Away28%
- Shots
- Home23
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away4
- Corners
- Home14
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away19
Live Text
Match ends, Poland 2, Latvia 0.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Poland 2, Latvia 0.
Corner, Poland. Conceded by Davis Ikaunieks.
Arkadiusz Reca (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Davis Ikaunieks (Latvia).
Robert Lewandowski (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Vladislavs Gabovs (Latvia).
Foul by Robert Lewandowski (Poland).
Kaspars Dubra (Latvia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Arkadiusz Milik (Poland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Kristers Tobers (Latvia).
Substitution
Substitution, Poland. Arkadiusz Milik replaces Krzysztof Piatek.
Grzegorz Krychowiak (Poland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Roberts Uldrikis (Latvia).
Grzegorz Krychowiak (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Olegs Laizans (Latvia).
Substitution
Substitution, Latvia. Kristers Tobers replaces Arturs Karasausks.
Goal!
Goal! Poland 2, Latvia 0. Kamil Glik (Poland) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Piotr Zielinski with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Poland. Conceded by Pavels Steinbors.
Attempt saved. Przemyslaw Frankowski (Poland) left footed shot from very close range is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Robert Lewandowski.
Substitution
Substitution, Poland. Przemyslaw Frankowski replaces Kamil Grosicki.
Substitution
Substitution, Latvia. Vladislavs Gabovs replaces Roberts Savalnieks because of an injury.
Attempt blocked. Jakub Blaszczykowski (Poland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Grzegorz Krychowiak.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Roberts Savalnieks (Latvia) because of an injury.
Goal!
Goal! Poland 1, Latvia 0. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Arkadiusz Reca.
Robert Lewandowski (Poland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Olegs Laizans (Latvia).
Attempt blocked. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Booking
Davis Ikaunieks (Latvia) is shown the yellow card.
Piotr Zielinski (Poland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Deniss Rakels (Latvia).
Attempt missed. Arturs Karasausks (Latvia) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Deniss Rakels.
Substitution
Substitution, Latvia. Roberts Uldrikis replaces Vladislavs Gutkovskis because of an injury.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Vladislavs Gutkovskis (Latvia) because of an injury.
Booking
Tomasz Kedziora (Poland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Tomasz Kedziora (Poland).
Vladislavs Gutkovskis (Latvia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
