Tyton rescues Poland in Euro 2012 opener
By Timothy Heritage
KYIV (Reuters) – Euro 2012 got off to a rousing start on Friday but co-hosts Poland ended the night frustrated after 2004 champions Greece fought back to earn a 1-1 draw in the tournament’s opening match in Warsaw that ended with both teams reduced to 10 men.
It could have been worse for the Poles but for substitute goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton, who saved a penalty with his first touch 20 minutes from time in an incident-packed Group A game.
After the tournament, which is being staged with Ukraine, got underway with a colorful ceremony in the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland and Greece served up an entertaining game.
The start of the action helped draw attention away from fears over racism at the event, the biggest of its kind in eastern Europe since the collapse of communism.
Poland’s first-choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny had been dismissed moments before Tyton’s heroics, for a foul on Dimitris Salpingidis in the penalty area, but Greece captain Giorgos Karagounis sent a weak spot kick low to the left and the substitute keeper acrobatically parried the ball to safety.
The vociferous home support among the 56,000 crowd did their best to spur their heroes to victory but Greece, also down to 10 men, held firm to earn a point in a group that includes Russia and Czech Republic, who play later on Friday in Wroclaw.
Poland had looked to be heading for victory when Robert Lewandowski nodded them deservedly in front in the 17th minute and Greece defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos was harshly dismissed just before halftime for a second yellow card.
But Salpingidis leveled for the Greeks six minutes after the break before Tyton became the first substitute keeper to save a penalty at a European Championship.
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