Buoyed by the win over Argentina and cheered on by their noisy fans, Saudi Arabia made life extremely difficult for Poland at Education City Stadium on Saturday evening. Herve Renard’s charges enjoyed the better start and were the superior team for much of the first half.
With Poland struggling to get a foothold in the game, up stepped captain Robert Lewandowski, who had had a quiet outing in their first group fixture against Mexico when he also missed a penalty.
Today, however, the Barcelona centre-forward was far more involved and helped set his side on course for victory in the 39th minute, teeing up Piotr Zielinski for the opener and proving once again that he can not only score goals but create them too. “He didn’t let the first game affect him and he hit back today, which is the mark of a top player,” said team-mate Matty Cash after the final whistle.
Lewandowski underlined his own scoring ability in the 82nd minute, beating Mohammed Alowais to put his side 2-0 up with his first World Cup goal, and the 2,600th in the tournament’s history. The tears visible in his eyes showed Lewandowski’s sense of relief.
For all his trophies won and numerous goals in a variety of competitions, Lewandowski had never found the net at a World Cup. With that milestone now attained in his fifth tournament game, Poland must hope he relaxes and finds his range now.
Lewandowski ended the context as the Budweiser Player of the Match though prior to his cathartic strike, it was another of Poland’s senior players who had stood out with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny producing a number of fine saves to keep his side in the game against a strong and gritty Saudi Arabia team.
The Juventus custodian’s headline moment arrived in first-half stoppage time when he kept out Salem Aldawsari’s penalty and tipped Mohammed Alburayk’s follow-up effort behind for a corner, before being smothered by jubilant team-mates.
“It all happened so fast that I didn’t really have time to think, but it was a fantastic moment,” the goalkeeper said. Lewandowski, Szczesny and Co next face Argentina on Wednesday when coach Czeslaw Michniewicz’s charges will bid to become the first Poland side to reach the knockout stage of a World Cup since 1986.
If the team’s figureheads can produce a repeat performance, don’t rule them out.
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