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Robert Lewandowski scored his first ever World Cup objective as Poland introduced Saudi Arabia again right down to earth with a bump on Saturday with an 2-0 Group C victory that rejuvenated their event marketing campaign.
Lewandowski, who missed a penalty in Poland’s opening draw with Mexico and was visibly emotional after discovering the web, pounced on a mistake within the 82nd minute to double Poland’s lead after Piotr Zielinski had given them a first-half lead.
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After finishing one of many event’s best ever shocks after they minimize Argentina right down to dimension of their opener, the Saudis, who didn’t convert a first-half penalty, discovered Poland a harder nut to crack on the Schooling Metropolis Stadium.
The win moved Poland to 4 factors, yet one more than the Saudis, and left them needing a draw of their last sport towards Argentina subsequent Wednesday to ensure their spot within the knockouts.
The Saudis, the second lowest ranked workforce within the event, will head into their last match towards Mexico with all nonetheless to play for, whereas Argentina play Mexico play in a while Saturday.
When requested about scoring his first World Cup objective, Lewandowski stated: “Relating to feelings, already in the course of the nationwide anthem after I was singing it, I felt feelings I’ve at the moment. It is troublesome to explain them.
“In the course of the sport — after all after we scored, the whole lot I had inside me — the desires, and significance of the objective, and the way I scored it, all these desires from an early childhood have been simply fulfilled and got here true.
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He added: “While you play for the nationwide squad, you must give attention to outcomes. However I’ve at all times wished to attain on the World Cup and this dream got here true. It isn’t simple as a result of we did not have that many alternatives throughout he first match and I missed the penalty kick. I am blissful I may be taught from the error, I learnt I needed to battle. The older I get, the extra emotional I get and I’m conscious that when it on the subject of the World Cup — it might be my final World Cup.”
There have been half-chances for each side earlier than the sport sprang to life within the thirty ninth minute when Poland shook themselves from their slumber to take the lead.
Matty Money skipped down the suitable and crossed low for Lewandowski who lifted it over the keeper and pulled it again for Zielinski to fireside into the roof of the web.
Their hopes of cruising by way of to halftime, nonetheless, have been ended 4 minutes later when Krystian Bielik made minimal contact with the again of Saleh Al-Shehri’s leg and he hit the turf.
The referee had initially waved away Saudi appeals however he was instructed to take a look at the VAR monitor and pointed to the spot, sparking celebrations from the Saudi gamers.
These proved untimely, nonetheless, as Salem Al-Dawsari’s low effort was palmed away one-handed by Wojciech Szczesny, who was shortly on his ft to parry the observe up from Mohammed Al-Breik brilliantly over the bar.
Poland may have prolonged their lead within the second half when Arkadiusz Milik’s header rattled the crossbar whereas Lewandowski hit the submit with an effort that deflected off his knee.
Lewandowski, who had drawn a clean in his 4 earlier World Cup video games, didn’t have to attend an excessive amount of longer, nonetheless, for his objective.
Abdulelah Al-Malki slipped and Lewandowski pounced, robbing him of the ball earlier than sliding a tidy end past Mohamed Al-Owais and into the web, with the striker seemingly in tears as he was greeted by teammates.
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