World Cup Round-up: Wales gave a creditable display but could not deny Poland victory and with it a place at the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany next summer.
John Toshack's men were under severe pressure for most of the match but still finished battling for an equaliser, having gone behind to a Maciej Zurawski second-half penalty.
Their young side were pounded by the Poles and they had teenager Craig Davies and debutant Joe Ledley on at the finish as Toshack stuck to his plan to give youth its fling.
Somehow Wales survived, with Danny Gabbidon outstanding and the likes of James Collins and David Partridge outstanding in defence.
Wales were under instant pressure with first a header from Tottenham's Grzegorz Rasiak and then a dipping drive from Miroslaw Szymkowiak flashing over in the opening minutes. Then Celtic striker Zurawski saw a 30-yard shot deflected inches wide.
Wales started to weather the storm and gained more possession, and one 60-yard cross-field ball by Ryan Giggs found Robbie Earnshaw, who struck it straight at Artur Boruc, in goal because of injury to Jerzy Dudek.
Substitute Richard Duffy had produced a perfectly fair, thunderous, tackle to dispossess Kamil Kosowski, but as the same player sprinted down the left-hand side of the box and cut back, the Coventry man caught him and sent him tumbling.
The Welsh players claimed a dive but the spot-kick was soon driven past Danny Coyne by Zurawski to give Poland the lead.
Giggs saw a 25-yard free-kick held by Celtic goalkeeper Boruc in the closing minutes and Wales were coming forward searching for the equaliser which never came.
Meanwhile, Portugal moved a step closer to qualifying for the World Cup finals after drawing 0-0 with 10-man Russia in a tense Group Three qualifier on last night.
Leaders Portugal have 24 points from 10 matches. Russia, with 19 points, remain tied for second with Slovakia who were held to a 1-1 draw by Latvia in Riga.
The Russians had captain Alexei Smertin sent off in the 43rd minute after he picked up his second yellow card for dangerous play.
