Poland 1
Lewandowski 17;
Greece 1
Salpingidis 51;
Poland: W. Szczesny, L. Piszczek, M. Wasilewski, D. Perquis, S. Boenisch, J. Blaszczy-kowski, E. Polanski, L. Obraniak, R. Murawski, M. Rybus (P. Tyton 70), R. Lewandowski.
Greece: K. Chalkias, V. Torosidis, S. Papastathopoulos, A. Papadopoulos (K. Papadopoulos 37), J. Holebas, G. Maniatis, K. Katsouranis, G. Karagounis, S. Ninis (D. Salpingidis 46), F. Gekas (K. Fortounis 68), G. Samaras.
Red cards: Papastathopoulos (G) 44; Szczesny (P) 69.
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain).
Substitute goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton was the unlikely hero as his penalty save from Greek captain Giorgos Karagounis saw Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland draw 1-1 with Euro 2004 champions Greece in an incident-packed opening match in Warsaw, yesterday.
Tyton’s moment of glory came with his first piece of action after Poland’s first choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny had been sent off by Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo in the 69th minute.
The Spaniard had been a busy man as he sent off Sokratis Papastathopoulos shortly before half-time with the hosts leading 1-0 thanks to a goal by Robert Lewandowski.
Tournament co-hosts Poland looked to have launched their campaign with a flourish, their self-belief stoked when Lewan-dowski sent home fans wild with his 17th-minute header.
But with Greece aware their shock win over Euro 2004 hosts Portugal launched them on their road to the title, they battled hard in the second half, with substitute Dimitris Salpingidis levelling the score in the 51st minute.
Poland manager Franciszek Smuda had warned that the Greek defence would be a tough nut to crack, and opted to go for the jugular from the outset.
Three minutes in, Rafal Murawski forced Greek keeper Kostas Chalkias to punch his strike clear, followed swiftly by Maciej Rybus, who hit the post.
Greece attempted to respond after winning a free-kick, with veteran Karagounis finding Fanis Gekas, who headed wide.
Lewandowski worked hard with Kuba Blaszczykowski and Lukasz Piszczek to hound the Greek defence.
Operating up front, defender Piszczek fed midfielder Blaszczy-kowski, only for the Poland captain to head over the bar.
Two minutes later, diving to head the ball, Lewandowski failed to latch on to a cross from Piszczek.
But the three men’s efforts paid dividends as they took advantage of poor marking with Piszczek finding Blaszczykowski, and Lewandowski heading home the latter’s cross.
Papastathopoulos, already hit with a yellow card, saw red just before half-time for bringing down Murawski.
Greece sought to take control in the second half.
In the 51st minute, Gekas challenged Szczesny, the ball spilled loose and Salpingidis seized his chance to beat the Arsenal goalkeeper.
Twenty minutes later, Szczesny’s nightmare day reached its nadir as he was sent off for bringing down the Greek scorer in the box.
But a hastily gloved-up Tyton saved the day as Karagounis failed to beat him.