Poland skipper Robert Lewandowski failed to interrupt his World Cup luck when he noticed a second-half penalty saved in a goalless however entertaining draw with Mexico of their opening Group C recreation at Stadium 974 in Qatar on Tuesday.
Lewandowski earned the penalty after a video assistant referee (VAR) verify 11 minutes into the second half when Hector Moreno tugged at his shirt within the field. However the Polish striker, who has by no means scored on the World Cup, noticed his shot saved by goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
In a brief area constructed utilizing 974 recycled transport containers and overlooking the Gulf, a sea of Mexico followers in inexperienced outnumbered their Polish counterparts, making their presence felt within the 40,000-capacity venue.
A flowing recreation of few fouls however fewer probabilities got here to life across the half-hour mark when Alexis Vega noticed his header fly huge earlier than Jesus Gallardo was denied with a last-man deal with when he had an open purpose at his mercy two minutes later.
Mexico had the majority of the possession, however with out Raul Jimenez spearheading the assault, Henry Martin struggled to get on the top of probabilities within the field.
On the different finish, Poland didn’t get Lewandowski concerned because the Barcelona striker – who has scored 18 targets for the Spanish membership this season – acquired little service, as each keepers completed the primary half with out having to make a save.
With Poland shedding the midfield battle, coach Czeslaw Michniewicz made a halftime substitution by hauling off Nicola Zalewski and bringing on central midfielder Krystian Bielik, which allowed Piotr Zielinski to play in a sophisticated position.
The tactical change appeared to work initially as Poland started creating probabilities and finally gained the penalty, which Lewandowski shot low solely to have Ochoa guess appropriately and dive to his left to disclaim the skipper.
To not be outdone by Ochoa’s brilliance in purpose, Polish keeper Wojciech Szczesny additionally underlined his credentials moments later when he reacted shortly to vary course and deny Martin’s glancing header, which had been on course.
Mexico coach Gerardo Martino changed Martin and introduced on Jimenez with 20 minutes to go within the second half, however the Wolverhampton Wanderers striker, who’s getting back from a protracted harm layoff, didn’t have a shot on purpose.
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