Moldova, considered the 171st-ranked team in the world, produced an astonishing turnaround to secure a surprising win against Poland, overcoming a 2-0 deficit and claiming only their second qualifying victory since 2013.
Despite Poland’s position at 23rd in the FIFA rankings and their recent triumph over Germany in a friendly match, they appeared in control during the first 34 minutes in Chisinau.
Arkadiusz Milik opened the scoring for Fernando Santos’ side, later setting up Robert Lewandowski, the prolific striker from Barcelona, who scored his 79th international goal—67 more than Moldova’s newly established leading goal scorer.
Ion Nicolaescu, representing Beitar Jerusalem, played a pivotal role in the minnows’ comeback by scoring twice to level the game. These goals propelled the 24-year-old, who has earned 34 caps, to a national record of 12 goals, surpassing Serghei Clescenco’s previous mark. Notably, Clescenco now serves as Moldova’s manager.
The fairy tale continued when defender Vladyslav Baboglo, earning only his second international cap, sealed the victory with a headed goal in the closing stages. Serafim Cojocari provided the cross for Baboglo, who had replaced Nicolaescu just 23 seconds prior to his decisive contribution.
Baboglo, who recently made his debut for Moldova after previously representing Ukraine up to the under-21 level, emerged as the hero of the match.
Moldova’s triumph is significant considering their lower ranking compared to teams like St Lucia and Vanuatu. Prior to this victory, they had only managed to win one out of their previous 43 matches in European Championship or World Cup qualifiers—a 1-0 result against Andorra in 2019.
With draws against the Faroe Islands and the Czech Republic, Moldova now climbs above Poland to secure the third position in Euro 2024 qualifying Group E.
Line-ups:
Match Stats:
Live Text:
Home Team: Moldova
Away Team: Poland
Possession:
Moldova: 27%
Poland: 73%
Shots:
Moldova: 9
Poland: 20
Shots on Target:
Moldova: 4
Poland: 5
Corners:
Moldova: 2
Poland: 9
Fouls:
Moldova: 25
Poland: 10
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about upset victory
Q: What was the final score of the Moldova vs. Poland match?
A: The final score was 3-2 in favor of Moldova.
Q: How did Moldova manage to win against Poland, a higher-ranked team?
A: Moldova staged a remarkable comeback, overcoming a 2-0 deficit to secure the victory. Ion Nicolaescu scored twice to level the game, and defender Vladyslav Baboglo headed in a late winner.
Q: What is the significance of this win for Moldova?
A: This victory is significant for Moldova as they are ranked 171st in the world and had won only one qualifying game since 2013 prior to this match. It marks a surprising upset against Poland, who are ranked 23rd.
Q: Who scored for Poland in the match?
A: Arkadiusz Milik scored the opening goal for Poland, and he also set up Robert Lewandowski for Poland’s second goal.
Q: How many international goals has Robert Lewandowski scored for Poland?
A: Robert Lewandowski has scored a total of 79 goals for his country, which is 67 more than Moldova’s current leading goal scorer.
Q: Who is the new record goalscorer for Moldova?
A: Ion Nicolaescu, who plays for Beitar Jerusalem, became the new record goalscorer for Moldova with his 12 goals in international matches.
Q: How did Vladyslav Baboglo contribute to the victory?
A: Vladyslav Baboglo, making only his second international appearance, scored the winning goal for Moldova with a header in the late stages of the match.
Q: What is Moldova’s position in the Euro 2024 qualifying Group E after this win?
A: With this win and draws against the Faroe Islands and the Czech Republic, Moldova moved above Poland into the third position in the Euro 2024 qualifying Group E.
More about upset victory
- FIFA Rankings
- UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifiers
- Moldova National Football Team
- Poland National Football Team
- Robert Lewandowski – UEFA Player Profile
- Moldova National Team Records
- Arkadiusz Milik – UEFA Player Profile
- Vladyslav Baboglo – Transfermarkt Player Profile
5 comments
wow moldova pulled off an epic upset against poland in the qualifying match. they were ranked like 171st in the world and still beat them 3-2! that’s insane!
The beauty of football lies in its unpredictability. Moldova’s victory over Poland serves as a reminder that anything can happen on the pitch. A thrilling match filled with surprises and memorable performances.
Moldova’s record-breaking goalscorer, Ion Nicolaescu, played a vital role in their comeback. Such a proud moment for Moldovan football. This match will be remembered for years to come!
omg can’t believe moldova actually won! poland is so much higher ranked but moldova came back from 2-0 down and scored a late winner. crazzyyyy!
Moldova’s win over Poland proves that rankings don’t always matter in football. It’s inspiring to see an underdog team fight back and secure a surprising victory. Well done, Moldova!