Milik strike secures history for Poland
Northern Ireland's unbeaten run ended at 12 matches as it suffered a narrow defeat to Poland in its Group C opener in Nice.
A second-half goal from Arkadiusz Milik proved enough for Poland to clinch a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in their UEFA Euro 2016 Group C opener on Monday (AEST).
Milik's 51st-minute strike from the edge of the penalty area secured Poland its first ever win at a European championship at the seventh attempt.
The result made it an unlucky 13 for Northern Ireland, which had entered its first major international tournament in 30 years off the back of a 12-match unbeaten run.
Not even the presence of Kyle Lafferty, passed fit to start after overcoming a groin injury picked up in training on Wednesday (AEST), could help Northern Ireland find the net at Nice's Allianz Riviera.
The striker was a spectator in the early stages, as Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland — for whom Robert Lewandowski was quiet — started at a ferocious pace.
With full-backs Artur Jedrzejczyk and Lukasz Piszczek overlapping at every opportunity, Poland peppered the Northern Irish area with crosses.
Yet for all its pressure, Poland struggled to break down a resolute defence.
Milik wasted easily the best opportunity before the break, firing over from eight yards out just after the half-hour mark.
Impressive teenager Bartosz Kapustka also forced goalkeeper Michael McGovern into an acrobatic save after teeing himself up for a left-footed drive on the edge of the area.
Northern Ireland, meanwhile, failed to muster an attempt at goal in the first 45 minutes.
However, Michael O'Neill's side were forced to come out of its shell once Milik finally managed to get a shot on target in the opening stages of the second half.
Picked out by Jakub Blaszczykowski's cutback from the right wing, the Ajax forward took a perfect first touch to tee up a low, left-footed drive that flashed beyond the diving McGovern and into the net.
The busy Kapustka was denied the chance to double Poland's advantage by a fine covering tackle from Conor McLaughlin.
Blaszczykowski then flashed an angled shot just beyond the target, while goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny had to be quick off his line to deny substitute Conor Washington from making an immediate impact on proceedings.
Milik missed out on grabbing his second when he sent a well-struck volley straight at McGovern, meaning the game remained in the balance right through to the final whistle.
Steven Davis had Northern Ireland's one real chance to grab an equaliser, but the captain failed to get away a shot as he fell to the turf.
The moment rather summed up his side's attacking performance, leaving it with work to do ahead of games against Ukraine and Germany.
