Russia and Poland are set to take the pitch Tuesday for their second game of the group stage at Euro 2012. The Russians are looking to keep their momentum going on Russia Day after defeating the Czech Republic to open the tournament, while the host Poles are looking to assert themselves after a draw with Greece in their opener.
Sports World Report will be following all the action from National Stadium in Warsaw, so keep checking back to follow the match and weigh in on the action in the comments section.
1' - The match is underway. Przemyslaw Tyton in goal for Poland, Vyacheslav Malafeev at goalkeeper for the Russians.
2' - Jakub Blaszczykowski hits the deck early, possession to Poland.
5' - Corner to Russia, but the Russains opt not to use a set piece.
7' - Ludovic Obraniak nearly set up an early strike for Poland, as the ball bounced off of Malafeev's leg after a header changed its' direction, but the chance was cleared away. Malafeev added a second save shortly thereafter.
8' - Another corner to Russia, but Arshavin's service was grabbed out of the air with relative ease by Tyton
10' - Kerzhakov looked to make a run at goal, but the offsides flag went up.
11' - A quick shot from Robert Lewandowski looked to give Poland a lead, but the ball went high and wide.
12' - Damien Perquis made a nice challenge to break up a chance for Kerzhakov. The Zenit St Petersburg star wanted a foul, but found no sympathy from the official.
13' - Perquis down on the pitch requiring medical attention after his leg was cut on the challenge to Kerzhakov. No substitution, play continues.
15' - Perquis back in action.
18' - Poland looked to have its best possession of the day, and it wound up with Eugen Polanski putting the ball in the net, but the offsides flag negated a goal.
21' - Poland gets its first corner of the afternoon, but Marcin Wasilewski's header sails over the goal.
23' - Some nifty passing from Poland created excitement in the box, but the Russians were able to break up the chance.
27' - Kerzhakov sent the ball into the box for Arshavin, but he can't get a good touch on it, and the ball rolls tantalizingly past the goal.
28' - Kerzhakov shot too high, sails over the goal.
32' - Alan Dzagoez looks to set something up for Russia, but his service is too high and sails out of bounds.
32' - Russian defender Sergei Isnashevich catches a boot to the knee and is briefly hobbled. No major issue.
39' - Low shot from the right side by Lukasz Piszczek parried by Malafeev and cleared away.
37' - GOAL, RUSSIA! Arshavin's service on a free kick sails through a crowd, and Alan Dzagoev heads it into the right side of the net.
43' - Corner to Russia, and it winds up on the foot of Zhirkov, whose left-footed shot is too far to the left.
45' + 1 - Two minutes of stoppage time begin with an inexplicable foul on Dzagoev, who was run into from behind in the box. Russia continuing to get the best of the chances.
HALF-TIME, Poland 0-1 Russia. The Russians are getting the better of the chances, and could have more to show for it than they do. Poland isn't playing badly, but also isn't playing as well as Russia.
46' - Action is back underway at the National Stadium.
46' - Great goalkeeping by Malafeev, as he was all alone with Lewandowski, but closed off the angle to deny the Pole a plum scoring chance. A pair of corner kicks for Poland ensued, but neither was fruitful.
53' - Perquis defends nicely to break up a chance for Russia, while Berezutsky gets in the way at the other end to deny a Polish opportunity.
55' - Arshavin is nearly upended in the box, but maintains his balance to keep play alive. Russia can't do much with the sustained opportunity, though.
57' - GOAL, POLAND! Jakub Blaszczykowski blasts one home for the co-hosts. Russia had numbers at the other end of the pitch, but a well-placed slide by a Polish defender gave the team a numbers advantage going the other way. Ludovic Obraniak sent the ball ahead to Blaszczykowski, whose left footed shot sailed into the top left corner of the net.
60' - Yellow card to Poland's Robert Lewandowski.
66' - Corner to Russia, passes without incident.
68' - Great save by Tyton on Dzagoev, followed by a save by Malafeev at the other end on Eugen Polanski.
72' - Arshavin's shot from the left side isn't much of a threat, easily caught by Tyton.
73' - Dariusz Dudka comes out of the game. Adrian Mierzejewski on to replace him for Poland.
75' - Free kick for Poland after Dzagoev brings down Lewandowski. Dazgoev picks up a yellow card for arguing another call.
77' - Sebastian Beonisch sends one high for Poland.
79' - Marat Izmailov on for the Russians, replacing Dzagoev.
81' - What looked to be an exciting run for Poland didn't amount to much, as Obraniak couldn't get enough on the shot, and Malafeev reeled it in without issue.
82' - Polanski gets booked.
83' - Russian corner, but no set piece. Russia works the ball around the perimeter, maintaining possession until Shirokov sends in a high arcing shot that lands in the arms of Tyton.
85' - Polanski done for the day, replaced by Adam Matuschyk.
'90 +1 - Into the first of three minutes of added time, and Arshavin makes a run at the goal, but it ends up fruitless.
'FULL TIME: Poland 1-1 Russia. Nothing really settled in this one, which may be for the best given the tension earlier in the day when Russian supporters marched to celebrate Russia Day. Russia in the driver's seat with four points, while the Czech Republic has three after a win over Greece, Poland has two after a pair of draws, and Greece has just one point. Russia needs just a point against Greece on Saturday to advance to the quarterfinals, while the match between Poland and the Czech Republic will, in all likelihood, determine who else advances out of Group A.