Robert Lewandowski’s eyes filled with tears as he rolled the ball into the net to score his very first World Cup goal, to secure a vital 2-0 win for Poland against Saudi Arabia. He’s been waiting for years to make his mark on the biggest stage of all, and finally he made it happen.
He couldn’t find the net in Russia four years ago and missed a crucial penalty against Mexico in the opening match in Qatar, but in the closing stages he capitalised on a defensive mistake to seal all three points. It takes Poland onto four points and to top spot in Group C, ahead of Argentina’s match with Mexico.
But it was a result that they had to work incredibly hard for. Saudi Arabia created chance after chance and only a brilliant performance from Wojciech Szczesny, including a penalty save, kept them out. The Juventus keeper was on top form as he pulled off one of the great double saves, while he also played a part in his team’s opening goal.
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Szczesny played it wide to Matty Cash and after a one-two, he did brilliantly to feed Robert Lewandowski in the box. He couldn’t quite convert, but the Barcelona man kept the move alive to pull the ball back for Piotr Zielinkski who fired the ball him, into the roof of the net. He’s now been involved in 14 goals this season, with seven goals and seven assists, but this was the biggest of the lot.
It was a goal that came completely against the run of play as Saudi Arabia had dominated, as Poland struggled to press. But then they put together one move that stunned the vocal support, however Saudi Arabia came back into the game.
Krystian Bielik clumsily made contact with Saleh Al Shehri and after a VAR check, the crowd erupted as the referee pointed to the spot. Salem Al Dawsari stepped up and saw his effort brilliantly save by Szczesny, before the former Arsenal goalkeeper somehow got up to tip the follow up effort by Mohammed Al Burayk over the bar.
It was the save of the tournament so far and kept Poland ahead as they made it through ten minutes of stoppage time and into the sanctuary of the dressing room unscathed. It was a frenetic first half, one featuring five yellow cards, the most since the 2010 World Cup final.
A second half goalmouth scramble saw Szczesny make another low save before Feras Al Brikan was played in on the left but blazed over before Mohammed Kano wasted another good chance. This was the same Saudi Arabia that hastled and hurried Argentina, showing their might once again.
But Poland should have doubled their lead. First, Arkadiusz Milik stooped to head a cross from the left onto the crossbar, before Lewandowski missed with his right foot from close range, and diverted the ball onto the post with his left knee. He certainly should have scored that chance, but Poland’s greatest player would mark his mark on the biggest stage.
Al Malki miscontrolled the ball on the edge of his own box and Lewandowski pounced to slide the ball past the onrushing keeper. Tears filled his eyes as he celebrated his very first World Cup goal, just days after missing that crucial penalty against Mexico. He could have got another as he missed a big one on one chance but he was left delighted with the 2-0 win.
Poland are top of the group, with Argentina left to play. The surprise package of the tournament?
