Robert Lewandowski fared relatively better than Lionel Messi did against Saudi Arabia.
The Poland striker was in tears, completely prevail over with emotion, as he stroked household his initially-at any time Earth Cup intention below at the Instruction Metropolis Stadium.
He place his side’s opener on plate for Piotr Zielinski, way too.
Robert Lewandowski was overjoyed to last but not least rating his initially intention at a World Cup finals
The Barcelona striker was left in tears as he was mobbed by his staff-mates following his goal
Lewandowski experienced before hit the write-up with a in close proximity to-submit flick as Poland tried out to settle the video game
But it is Lewandowski’s purpose that served settle the Europeans’ late nerves that provided the abiding memory of this come upon.
The 34-12 months-aged has 77 goals for his region – but this is the one he has longed for the most.
Lewandowski is finally a Planet Cup goalscorer, no surprise he could not contain his thoughts.
You would have forgiven the Saudi’s for shedding a tear, much too. They could not rather replicate their seismic get around Argentina on Tuesday.
But make no error, they had the Poles rattled. This effervescent Saudi staff, coached expertly by Herve Renard, are joy to behold.
Piotr Zielinski (remaining) experienced opened the scoring for Poland shortly before the interval
Saudi Arabia experienced been the excellent staff but Poland scored their opener at a essential time
Their football is relentless and thrilling in equivalent evaluate – you cannot get your eyes off it. Their supporters are a noisy bunch, way too. In spite of this defeat, Saudi Arabia keep on being just one of the stories of the event so much.
In fact, Poland expected each individual ounce of Lewandowski’s brilliance to get above the line.
But more so, they have been indebted to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who designed a string of outstanding will save – together with one particular from the spot – to spare his team’s blushes.
Simply because the Poles had been pummelled for a great deal of this match. The Saudi’s had been vivid and threatening, bursting with depth and application.
Their resourceful fulcrum – Salem Aldawsari is menace when keeping midfielder Abdulelah Almalki oozed confidence as he sat just in entrance of his again four.
Wojciech Szczesny reaches out a hand to deny Salem Al-Dawsari and quick equaliser
Szczesny is mobbed by his Poland crew-mates following holding them ahead with his penalty conserve
For extended intervals, Poland struggled to keep afloat. Szczesny tipped in excess of Mohammed Kanno’s’ effort and hard work in the 13th minute before Jakub Kiwior, Matty Cash and Arkadiusz Milik were being all booked in rapid succession.
Krystian Bielik then experienced to instinctively divert Saleh Al Shehri’s objective sure effort off the line in the 26th moment.
It took an intervention from Lewandowski to finally regular the ship the striker delicately skipping over and above goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais just before slicing the ball again to Piotr Zielinski who fired powerfully into the roof of the net to score Poland’s 1st Planet Cup goal from open up engage in due to the fact 2002.
It was harsh on the Saudis, not that their supporters were sensation sorry for themselves. They louder, extra vociferous right after Poland’s purpose.
So when referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio, soon after a VAR verify, awarded Saudi a 44th moment penalty – you can picture their frenzied reaction.
Saudi Arabia’s Firas Al-Buraikan sees an effort blocked by Poland defender Matty Money
Poland stopper Szczesny smothers an effort and hard work by Al-Dawsari as Saudi Arabia pressured
The Poles ended up fuming judging by the replays they experienced just about every ideal to be aggrieved.
Bielik scarcely touched Al Shehri’s calf, but that didn’t reduce the Saudi ahead from theatrically throwing himself to the ground.
Sampaio, following consulting his display screen, fell for it hook, line and sinker. The Saudi’s thought they have been again in it but Szczesny had other strategies.
The previous Arsenal keeper to start with stopped Aldawsari’s penalty in advance of building an even much better conserve to deny Mohammed Alburayk’s adhere to-up.
Szczesny was in just one of those people moods. This sport will generally be remembered for Lewandowski breaking his Entire world Cup duck.
But Poland would have dropped if it was not Szczesny, who produced an additional fantastic end from Aldawsari to preserve Saudi at bay in advance of Lewandowski wrote his name into the World Cup background textbooks in the 80th minute.
Robert Lewandowski tries to carry the ball above Saudi keeper Mohammed Al-Owais
Almalki would not want to see the target once again, his miscalculation leaving Lewandowski with the easiest of duties of stroking earlier Alowais.
The celebrations ended up tearful – most likely out of relief a lot more than nearly anything else.
This working day belonged to the great Pole, but without having Szczesny it could have been oh so unique.
RE-Live HOW THE Action UNFOLDED WITH ADAM SHERGOLD BELOW
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