Poland’s Robert Lewandowski has his penalty saved by Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa during their Group C match at Stadium 974 yesterday. REUTERS
Robert Lewandowski missed a 58th minute penalty as Poland held Mexico to a 0-0 draw in their opening Group C match of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 yesterday. Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa showed his experience as he parried the Barcelona striker’s effort to safety at a packed Stadium 974.
With the miss, Lewandowski, Poland’s record scorer with 76 goals, extended his goal drought at the World Cup, but Mexico, who enjoyed over 60% of the ball, created better chances and could have claimed all three points.
Poland’s Wojciech Szczęsny was in good form for the Europeans stopping efforts from Hirving Lozano, and a late save from Henry Martin’s glancing header.
“Today I feel sorry for Robert because I know how much he wanted to score at the World Cup,” Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz said.
"Great players haven't been scoring at great tournaments for as long I can remember. Zico,
Socrates, Platini, Maradona - from those championships I remember - but also many other great footballers.
“So far, he has not succeeded, but I hope that in the next opportunities that lie ahead of him, he will convert them,” Michniewicz added.
El Tri started the game on the front foot when Lozano picked the pockets of Bartosz Bereszyński, but Alexis Vega failed to connect with the cross.
It was all Mexico in the opening 30 minutes and Vega again almost broke the deadlock, but his header narrowly flew past the post with Szczęsny at full stretch.
Mexico’s Jesus Gallardo beat the offside trap with a well-timed run stretching the Polish backline, but Szcezny rushed out early before the defence snuffed out the danger.
Mexico’s high-press and high-octane style reminiscent of coach Gerardo Martino’s sides of the past was on full display as Poland saw little of the ball in the first half with Lewandowski, a spectator.
Robert Lewandowski looks dejected after missing his penalty against Mexico. REUTERS
Jose Sanchez almost caught Szczęsny napping, but the Juventus keeper parried over the bar for a corner as the referee whistled for half-time.
Mexico started the second half brightly, and Lozano soon tested Szczęsny, but he stood up to the test and held firmly.
Lewandowski, who had endured raucous jeers from the Mexico fans all game, soon got a lifeline 10 minutes after the restart. The 34-year-old was clearly fouled by Hector Moreno as they contested for an aerial ball and the referee, after consulting with VAR, pointed to the spot.
The brilliant Ochoa, a veteran of five World Cups, ensured the drought continued for the Polish striker producing a brilliant save to keep his side in the game.
Mexico dominated but lacked the cutting edge in attack as Martin glanced a goalbound header, but Szczesny managed to stop.
The introduction of Raul Jimenez, 20 minutes to go, failed to spark Martino’s men as both teams shared the point.
“We were on the front foot in the first half; we deserved an advantage at half-time,” Martino said.
“The penalty was a mistake from us, but in general terms, I think we should have won the game given what we did in the first half.
"We need to be more effective. We need to convert the opportunities that we create into goals," the Argentine added.
Poland will play Saudi Arabia on Saturday at the Education City Stadium, while Mexico take on Argentina on the same day at the Lusail Stadium.
The result means Saudi Arabia, who stunned World Cup favourites and two-time champions Argentina 2-1 earlier in the day, remain top of the group, with Argentina bottom.
