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Robert Lewandowski fared considerably higher than Lionel Messi did towards Saudi Arabia.
The Poland striker was in tears, completely overcome with emotion, as he stroked house his first-ever World Cup aim right here on the Schooling Metropolis Stadium.
He put his facet’s opener on plate for Piotr Zielinski, too.
Robert Lewandowski was overjoyed to lastly rating his first aim at a World Cup finals
The Barcelona striker was left in tears as he was mobbed by his team-mates after his aim
Lewandowski had earlier hit the submit with a near-post flick as Poland tried to settle the sport
However it’s Lewandowski’s aim that helped settle the Europeans’ late nerves that offered the abiding reminiscence of this encounter.
The 34-year-old has 77 objectives for his nation – however that is the one he has longed for essentially the most.
Lewandowski is lastly a World Cup goalscorer, no marvel he could not comprise his emotions.
You’d have forgiven the Saudi’s for shedding a tear, too. They could not fairly replicate their seismic win over Argentina on Tuesday.
However make no mistake, that they had the Poles rattled. This effervescent Saudi workforce, coached expertly by Herve Renard, are pleasure to behold.
Piotr Zielinski (left) had opened the scoring for Poland shortly earlier than the interval
Saudi Arabia had been the superior workforce however Poland scored their opener at an important time
Their soccer is relentless and thrilling in equal measure – you may’t take your eyes off it. Their supporters are a loud bunch, too. Regardless of this defeat, Saudi Arabia stay one of many tales of the event to date.
Certainly, Poland required each ounce of Lewandowski’s brilliance to recover from the road.
However extra so, they had been indebted to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who made a string of good saves – together with one from the spot – to spare his workforce’s blushes.
As a result of the Poles had been pummelled for a lot of this sport. The Saudi’s had been vibrant and threatening, bursting with depth and software.
Their artistic fulcrum – Salem Aldawsari is menace whereas holding midfielder Abdulelah Almalki oozed confidence as he sat simply in entrance of his again 4.
Wojciech Szczesny reaches out a hand to disclaim Salem Al-Dawsari and instant equaliser
Szczesny is mobbed by his Poland team-mates after protecting them forward along with his penalty save
For lengthy durations, Poland struggled to remain afloat. Szczesny tipped over Mohammed Kanno’s’ effort within the thirteenth minute earlier than Jakub Kiwior, Matty Money and Arkadiusz Milik had been all booked in fast succession.
Krystian Bielik then needed to instinctively divert Saleh Al Shehri’s aim sure effort off the road within the twenty sixth minute.
It took an intervention from Lewandowski to lastly regular the ship; the striker delicately skipping past goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais earlier than chopping the ball again to Piotr Zielinski who fired powerfully into the roof of the web to attain Poland’s first World Cup aim from open play since 2002.
It was harsh on the Saudis, not that their supporters had been feeling sorry for themselves. They louder, extra vociferous after Poland’s aim.
So when referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio, after a VAR verify, awarded Saudi a forty fourth minute penalty – you may think about their frenzied response.
The Poles had been fuming; judging by the replays that they had each proper to be aggrieved.
Bielik barely touched Al Shehri’s calf, however that did not stop the Saudi ahead from theatrically throwing himself to the ground.
Saudi Arabia’s Firas Al-Buraikan sees an effort blocked by Poland defender Matty Money
Poland stopper Szczesny smothers an effort by Al-Dawsari as Saudi Arabia pressured
Sampaio, after consulting his display screen, fell for it hook, line and sinker. The Saudi’s thought they had been again in it; however Szczesny had different concepts.
The previous Arsenal keeper first stopped Aldawsari’s penalty earlier than making an excellent higher save to disclaim Mohammed Alburayk’s follow-up.
Szczesny was in a kind of moods. This sport will all the time be remembered for Lewandowski breaking his World Cup duck.
However Poland would have misplaced if it wasn’t Szczesny, who made one other good cease from Aldawsari to maintain Saudi at bay earlier than Lewandowski wrote his title into the World Cup historical past books within the eightieth minute.
Robert Lewandowski tries to carry the ball over Saudi keeper Mohammed Al-Owais
Almalki will not wish to see the aim once more, his mistake leaving Lewandowski with the best of duties of stroking previous Alowais.
The celebrations had been tearful – most likely out of reduction greater than the rest.
Today belonged to the nice Pole, however with out Szczesny it might have been oh so completely different.
RE-LIVE HOW THE ACTION UNFOLDED WITH ADAM SHERGOLD BELOW
