Lewandowski’s embarrassing first goal in the World Cup finals puts Poland to sleep

Finally Robert Lewandowski (34, FC Barcelona), who had nothing to do with scoring in the World Cup, scored his first goal in the finals. It can be a little embarrassing because it was scored by taking advantage of a mistake by the opponent’s defender, but the first goal was clear.

Poland won 2-0 against Saudi Arabia in the second leg of Group C of the Qatar 2022 World Cup group stage held at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan on the 26th. Poland, who drew the first match against Mexico without a goal, got 4 points with 1 win and 1 draw. If they win against Argentina, the last game of the group stage, they will progress to the round of 16 alone, and even if they draw or lose, the possibility of progressing to the round of 16 is still alive. The last time Poland reached the group stage was at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

Saudi Arabia, who caused a stir by defeating champion contenders Argentina, were unable to add points in a painful defeat due to a lack of decisiveness and being caught off guard by the opposition’s counter-attack despite a dominant game. Saudi Arabia are aiming to progress to the round of 16 once again through the final match of the group stage against Mexico on the 1st of next month. The last time Saudi Arabia reached the round of 16 was in the 1994 World Cup in the USA.

Poland struggled with Saudi Arabia’s fast tempo early in the game. During the first 15 minutes of the game, two defenders suffered from the opponent’s offensive rough enough to receive yellow cards. However, Poland did not miss the decisive opportunity that came in a frustrating situation.

On 39 minutes of the first half, winger Matty Cash pierced the right side and fired a ground ball cross, and Lewandowski, who was rushing to the center of the penalty box, could not control it properly and bounced it. Lewandowski kept the ball to the end and turned around from the goal line and stabbed it into the middle. Piotr Zielinski calmly connected with his right foot inside the penalty box and rattled the net. He also enjoyed the glory of scoring his first World Cup goal.

Poland managed to escape the biggest crisis on 43 minutes of the first half. Inside the penalty box, defender Christian Bielik connected with the opposing team’s Salikh Shahri and conceded a penalty after video review (VAR). However, Salim Dausari’s powerful ground kick was blocked by goalkeeper Wojciech Szczeksny with a blast. Soon after, Muhammad Buryq connected the ball with a right-footed shot, but the situation ended as it went over the goal.

Poland managed to escape danger again in the 10th minute of the second half when goalkeeper Szczesny netted the opponent’s shot after a battle inside the penalty box. At the end of the game, Saudi Arabia threatened Poland’s goal even more fiercely. Abdul Illah Maliki of Saudi Arabia fired a sharp left-footed shot from the center of the penalty box in the 32nd minute of the second half, but it flew just to the right of the goal.

At this time, Lewandowski’s wedge goal came out. He took the ball in the 37th minute of the second half when Maliki was careless and failed to protect the ball properly, and finished it with his left foot directly in a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper. Impressed, Lewandowski fell to the ground and burst into tears. Poland endured Saudi Arabia’s aggressive attack well and took 3 points.

Senior Correspondent Lim Byung-son