THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHORZOW, Poland — Slovakia qualified for its first World Cup on Wednesday after beating Poland 1-0 thanks to an early own-goal.
The Slovaks failed to create any solid scoring chances of their own on a snowy, sloppy night, instead taking advantage of a Poland mistake and solid play from keeper Jan Mucha to claim the top spot in Group 3.
Poland defender Seweryn Gancarczyk attempted to clear a cross into the Polish box in the third minute but knocked the ball past goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek and into the net to gift Slovakia a 1-0 lead.
"It was an unlucky play," Dudek said. "There was the cross in and it wasn’t really even dangerous because only our guys were there. It took a bad bounce and it was bad luck to surrender an own goal so early."
After the early mistake, Poland regrouped and thoroughly outplayed a Slovakia side missing four regulars who were serving suspensions for accrued yellow cards.
But with snow covering the ground and falling throughout the match, the Poles could never find an equalizer despite a handful of solid chances.
Midfielder Mariusz Lewandowski threatened in the 32nd, putting a left-footed drive from the top of the area on the crossbar.
Ireneusz Jelen had another chance before halftime, collecting a cross in the box unmarked. But the Poland striker knocked his shot from 10 yards (meters) way above the bar.
Keeper Jan Mucha then rescued Slovakia in the second half with a few key saves.
Mucha blocked a blast from Jelen in the 65th with his chest, then made a diving save on a drive from Lewandowski in the 84th to secure the win and put Slovakia in the World Cup finals for the first time.
As part of Czechoslovakia, the Slovaks won the European Championship in 1976 and reached the World Cup final twice, in 1934 and 1962.
The handful of Slovakia fans who made the trip to Chorzow stormed the field after the final whistle, waving red, white and blue Slovakia flags and jumping up and down with the players.