07.09.2014 22:53 h

Lewandowski-inspired Poland hit Gibraltar for seven

Minnows Gibraltar were given a lesson on their introduction to competitive internationals as a UEFA member by Poland as Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski scored four times in a 7-0 romp on Sunday.

The tiny British Overseas Territory featured just two professional players in their starting line-up and are having to play their designated home games in Faro, southern Portugal, because there isn't currently a stadium in their homeland which meets UEFA criteria.

However, they did themselves proud in the first-half as they kept their more illustrious at bay after Kamil Grosicki's early deflected opener.

Their resistence was broken in spectacular style after the break, though, as the Poles ran in four goals in 10 minutes.

Rennes' midfielder Grosicki added his second of the game three minutes into the second period as he left two Gibraltan defenders and goalkeeper Jordan Perez on the floor before rolling the ball into the unguarded net.

Lewandowski then showed his class as he easily headed in Jakub Wawrzyniak's cross and then drilled the ball low past Perez three minutes later.

Gibraltar had a case for feeling hard done by as central defender Lukasz Szukala looked to have fouled David Artell as he rose to head home the fifth.

And Lewandowski piled on the pain for Allen Bula's men in the closing stages as he sprinted in behind the Gibraltan to fire home his hat-trick before rounding off the scoring with a thumping near post finish.

A much tougher task awaits Poland in their next outing in the group as they host world champions Germany in Warsaw next month, whilst Gibraltar travel to face Republic of Ireland, who also began with a 2-1 win away to Georgia on Sunday.