PZPN

What a match it was! The stakes for the final fixture of the tournament were incredibly high. The Poles headed into the clash against Ukraine following victories over Belgium and Norway. Their opponents had defeated the Belgians, but suffered a defeat against the Norwegians. A draw was enough for the White and Reds to top the group and secure their ticket to the European Championship. The stands at the Centrum Sportu Rekord arena were almost completely full, and the fans created an atmosphere worthy of a decisive match.

The Ukrainians had to cope without Oksana Savchuk, who plays for Rekord Bielsko-Biała at club level, as she was shown a red card in the match against Belgium. However, this did not prevent them from making a strong start to the match. In the second minute, Anna Shulha capitalised on the Poles losing possession in the middle of the pitch, giving her team the lead following a quick attack. The White and Reds tried to respond. In the seventh minute, Julia Basta narrowly missed the target, and a moment later, the same player pulled off an excellent intervention, clearing the ball off the line. The Poles looked for opportunities, but they lacked clinical finishing. In the ninth minute, Katarzyna Włodarczyk failed to control the ball properly, and two minutes later, the Ukrainian goalkeeper dealt with a shot from Agata Bała.

There were also dangerous moments in front of the Polish goal. In one of the subsequent attacks, Daria Kovshyk found herself in a promising position, but Andżelika Dąbek made a brilliant save from close range. In the 13th minute, the Poles drew level. Following a corner taken by Agata Bała, the ball reached Izabela Tracz, who beat the opposing goalkeeper. The White and Reds wanted to build on their momentum. In the 15th minute, Klaudia Kubaszek tested the Ukrainian goalkeeper, but she was not caught off guard. Three minutes later, the Ukrainians regained the lead. Following a foul by Natalia Matuszewska, the referee awarded a penalty, which Shulha converted. Just before the break, Kubaszek tried to equalise, but the opposing goalkeeper beat her to the ball.

At half-time, it was 2-1 to Ukraine. This result still secured qualification for the Poles, but head coach Wojciech Weiss's side had no intention of merely defending a favourable result in the standings. After the restart, they went on the offensive. Włodarczyk was lively, Basta also had chances, but they lacked clinical finishing. In the 27th minute, Bała struck a dangerous shot, but it went over the crossbar. A moment later, the Ukrainians struck another blow. Oleksandra Skybina pounced on the ball and extended their lead with a powerful strike. The Poles' situation became more difficult, although there was still plenty of time remaining. The White and Reds had no intention of giving up. Bała and Basta had good opportunities, but once again, the Ukrainian goalkeeper was up to the task. Then came the moment that changed the course of the match. In the 34th minute, Maja Fal, a Rekord Bielsko-Biała player, capitalised on a pass from Włodarczyk and steered the ball into the net with a clever finish.

The Poles had barely had time to celebrate their goal before they had reason to cheer again. Following a pass from Bała, Fal once again found herself at the centre of the action. Her shot deflected off the back of a Ukrainian defender and went into the net. Within a matter of seconds, the White and Reds had erased a two-goal deficit, and the Centrum Sportu Rekord arena erupted in joy. At 3-3, the Poles wanted to build on their momentum. In the 36th minute, Szostak hit the crossbar, and a moment later, Kubaszek hit the side netting. In the closing stages, the Ukrainians opted to play with a flying goalkeeper, attempting to tip the scales in their favour. However, they could have been punished for this. In the 39th minute, Szostak intercepted the ball and shot at an empty net, but the ball struck the post. The final seconds brought one more crucial intervention. This time, Kubaszek was the hero, preventing the White and Reds from conceding a goal at a crucial moment.

When the final buzzer sounded, the 3-3 draw meant one thing: the Poland women's national futsal team had secured qualification for the European Championship. In the decisive match, the White and Reds showed character, overturning a two-goal deficit and securing their place among the best teams on the continent.