Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Group C - Poland v Denmark - Stadion Allmend, Lucerne, Switzerland - July 12, 2025 Poland's Natalia Padilla celebrates with a trophy after the match REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo
LUCERNE, Switzerland (Reuters) -Poland recorded their first victory at a major women's tournament with a 3-2 win over Denmark on Saturday that saw them depart Euro 2025 on a high note.
With both teams already eliminated, the result meant Poland came third in Group C at their debut Euros, and Denmark fourth.
Natalia Padilla-Bidas made history and had Polish fans on their feet with her 12th-minute goal, the team's first in a major tournament, when a loose ball fell at her feet and she fired home.
Ewa Pajor, Poland's all-time leading goalscorer, doubled the lead eight minutes later when she intercepted the ball in the midfield, laid it out to Padilla-Bidas then charged to the back post to head it in.
Denmark's Janni Thomsen pulled one back in the 59th minute but Poland restored their two-goal lead when substitute Martyna Wiankowska struck from the edge of the box, firing the ball in off the bar.
Denmark, runners-up at Euro 2017, replied in the 83rd minute when Signe Bruun headed in Katrine Veje's pinpoint cross.
After the final whistle, the joyous Poland players tossed player of the match Padilla-Bidas in the air and celebrated with their supporters.
"It was a fantastic match," Poland coach Nina Patalon said.
"We waited a long time for it. We wanted to score that one goal, and we scored three. Today I am so proud of my girls and just so, so happy."
Sweden finished top of Group C with their 4-1 win over Germany, who came second.
(Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
