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Goals from Piotr Zielinski and Robert Lewandowski secured Poland a 2-0 win against Saudi Arabia in the second round of Group C matches at the 2022 World Cup. That results sees the group nicely poised and means Argentina will exit the tournament if they lose to Mexico later today.
(Photo: Getty Images)
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November 26, 2022 at 11:31 AM EST
He said: "Let me start from the beginning because I felt so many emotions when I was singing the national anthem. It’s difficult to explain why my emotions were so strong today but I have been dreaming about this since I was a child. And then you think about the importance of the goal. It was just a dream come true. We actually made several good opportunities and I could have scored more but it was a great result. We have another big match to play, of course, and we’ll have to see what the other result is.
"When you play for the national team you have to focus on the result but it’s true that I have always wanted to score in the World Cup. But it’s not easy. We didn’t create many chances in the first half and then I didn’t score the penalty.
"I changed my boots because of the pitch. I just wanted more traction. There’s no big story.
"I think the older I get the more emotional I get. I have always wanted to score at a World Cup just to really underline that I played at a World Cup. I don’t always focus on personal statistics, the team result is the most important thing, but sometimes the two things merge."
November 26, 2022 at 11:16 AM EST
The Saudi Arabia manager said: "I’m proud of my team. We were supposed to manage the game better, especially by getting back to 1-1 at half-time. I’m sure it would have changed a lot. But we were not efficient against a strong team. They were a lot of duels and they played some long balls. The key is to to be realistic with your opportunities. But we are still alive and we will keep playing until the last second of our World Cup, we won’t give up.
"When you are a coach, if you are happy after they won the first game, you have to support them when they lose the second.
"We didn’t lose because we were unlucky; we lost today because we were not efficient. Almalki made a mistake for the second goal but I have to support my players. That’s how I’ve managed all my teams. It’s too easy to shout at them when they make mistakes but you have to build them up and support them.
"The most important thing is we are still alive and we’ll play the third game with the same energy. Do you know what we need? The fans. I hope they come in the same numbers. They were superb. I would like to see a green stadium. I think we’ll be wearing white but it doesn’t matter. Green and white is fine. I really hope they support the players again but they deserve it.
"Poland have three fantastic players in their side: Szczesny, Zielinski and Lewandowski. But nobody has just discovered Szczesnhy today. Congratulations to him, he won the game and we didn’t have success against him. But the last game our keeper did the same. This is football.
"I could talk about Robert Lewandowski for an hour. The way he controls the ball, his movement, he’s one of the best strikers in the world."
November 26, 2022 at 10:42 AM EST
Watch on below.
Robert Lewandowski scores his first-ever FIFA World Cup goal as Poland secures three points against Saudi Arabia at Education City Stadium 🤜🤛🇵🇱
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 26, 2022
Recap all the action in our 90' in 90" highlights ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/r6DUfu47QB
November 26, 2022 at 10:27 AM EST
Zielinski really pounced on that one.
𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗣𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘 🎯
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 26, 2022
Matty Cash in the thick of it but it's Napoli midfielder Piotr Zieliński who strikes to put Poland in front against Saudi Arabia 🇵🇱🇸🇦#ITVFootball | #FifaWorldCup pic.twitter.com/lIbqxGP2mb
November 26, 2022 at 10:12 AM EST
Just look at his reaction — it's his first ever goal at a World Cup!
The moment Robert Lewandowski scored his 77th goal for Poland, and his first in the #FIFAWorldCup ⚽#POL
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) November 26, 2022
📽️ @itvfootball pic.twitter.com/1MWmPZGvKF
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November 26, 2022 at 10:05 AM EST
After the high of earlier in the week, Saudi Arabia produced another good display and were the better side for periods.
Poland eventually composed themselves and once they got ahead, controlled and managed the game well.
An important three points for them.
All to play for in this group.
November 26, 2022 at 10:03 AM EST
A really enjoyable game.
Poland have their first win, Lewandowski has his first goal and Wojciech Szczesny has his first World Cup penalty save.
November 26, 2022 at 10:02 AM EST
A simple choice and it is the Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny who is my man of the match.
It was his incredible double save at the end of the first half, first from the penalty spot and then the follow-up, which kept Poland in the lead.
Two clean sheets and nine saves, the most of any goalkeeper in the tournament is not a bad way to start the competition.
November 26, 2022 at 10:02 AM EST
A decent long range effort from Kanno curls wide of Szczesny's far post.
November 26, 2022 at 9:59 AM EST
It has not been Saudi Arabia's day but there are positives to take from their performances. They were the better side in the second half and early in the second period but began to run out of steam.
They scored two goals from three shots against Argentina but could not find the net from their fifteen efforts today.
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November 26, 2022 at 9:57 AM EST
Abdulelah Almalki horror show. Poor fella. Shades of Steven Gerrard's clanger against Chelsea about it. Last man, a loose touch, a desperate lunge and then a one-on-one for for the opposition striker. I don't remember Liverpool immediately hooking Gerrard, though. That was Almalki's last touch in this game. And while I type this, Lewandowski has just spurned a one-on-one chance. He surged into the box but went for a dink over the keeper. Good save.
November 26, 2022 at 9:56 AM EST
Well it was nearly like London buses with one bringing two for Lewandowski.
He finds himself in behind again and tries to chip the goalkeeper, who dived towards his feet, but Al Owais manages to make the save.
He still only has one goal.
November 26, 2022 at 9:54 AM EST
A goal and an assist for Poland's main man this afternoon.
2 - Robert Lewandowski has been involved in his first two goals in the World Cup (assist and goal), after failing to do so in his first four games in the competition. Unleashed. #POLKSA pic.twitter.com/X7kV8FIODo
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) November 26, 2022
November 26, 2022 at 9:52 AM EST
Renard makes two more changes but this game looks over.
Al Malki, after just committing the mistake which led to Poland's second and Al Shehri are off.
Nasser Al Dawsari and Abdulrahman Al Obud are on in their place.
November 26, 2022 at 9:50 AM EST
An emotional Lewandowski finally has his World Cup goal.
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November 26, 2022 at 9:47 AM EST
Finally. The curse is over.
Poland double their lead.
It could not have been simpler. Saudi Arabia are playing the ball around the back and a poor touch from Al Malki is pounced on by Lewandowski.
One-on-one with the goalkeeper, he was never going to miss.
November 26, 2022 at 9:45 AM EST
It looked like Saudi Arabia were beginning to tire but they've found their second wind in the last few minutes.
They've got ten minutes plus added time to try and find an equaliser.
November 26, 2022 at 9:44 AM EST
It may just not be Saudi Arabia's day. Lovely run into the box from Abdulhamid. The ball is cut back and there is Abdulelah Al Malki arriving.
He curls his effort towards the far post and is goes just wide.
November 26, 2022 at 9:40 AM EST
Five yellow cards in the first half. There haven't been any in the second half so far...
The five yellow cards shown in the first half of #POLKSA was the most in the opening half of a #FIFAWorldCup match since the 2010 final (Spain v Netherlands).
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) November 26, 2022
[@OptaJoe] pic.twitter.com/WalNoWyeSk
November 26, 2022 at 9:37 AM EST
So close to putting Poland two goals up, Milik is replaced by Krzysztof Piatek.
Within the madness before, Saudi Arabia also made a change. Al Burayk was replaced by Sultan Al Ghannam
Team Stats
POL
KSA
9
Shots
16
3
Shots on Target
5
7
Chances Created
10
4
Corners
5
5
Saves
1
36%
Possession
64%
0
Offsides
0
18
Fouls
15
3
Yellow Cards
2
0
Red Cards
0
Game Details