Robert Lewandowski had by no means scored on the World Cup and Guillermo Ochoa merely refuses to select the soccer from his personal web when the most important match comes round. Due to this fact it was no actual shock when the Mexican custodian saved the star striker’s penalty, the one actual try both of the groups had on objective, in a 0-0 draw of their Group C encounter at Stadium 974 on Tuesday.
The Poland-Mexico conflict skyrocketed in significance after Saudi Arabia took one have a look at the script and determined that their function on this World Cup wanted a rewrite or two.
The sport started precisely as one believed Poland would function. They have been content material when Mexico stored the ball, allowed them to remain on the flanks and waited for crosses to be dropped in from these areas or the Mexicans to chop in and take a number of pops at Wojciech Szczęsny’s objective.
Ochoa saves the day once more! 🇲🇽🧤@adidasfootball | #FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 22, 2022
It was virtually just like the golden alternative supplied to the Poles by Saudi Arabia hours earlier was identified to everybody however them.
Mexico, on their half, have been all about width. Their flanks have been overloaded and so they consistently stored switching the ball. Nonetheless, there was some dissatisfaction in direction of their method from a smattering of their very own supporters who needed a bit of extra direct type to the Mexican assault and might be heard groaning when a move went sideways or again. The primary half-hour of the sport handed with no actual probabilities created by each groups however Mexico undoubtedly being the higher of the 2 sides.
The Central People continued to develop into the sport. They pressed frantically in the event that they misplaced the ball within the closing third of the pitch, by no means letting Poland achieve time and house when in possession. However when the Mexicans received the ball, their closing ball was all that was lacking because the half got here to a detailed with the rating nonetheless firmly lodged at 0-0.
Massive miss
Poland have change into masters of grinding out wins. They’re identified to sit down and wait till a second of alternative beckons. That second introduced itself within the fifty fifth minute. Hector Moreno pulled Robert Lewandoski within the field and whereas initially not seen by the referee, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system put issues into Chris Beath’s fingers. It took a number of seconds however the verdict was a penalty to Poland and a yellow card to Hector.
Up stepped Lewandowski. By no means having celebrated a objective on the World Cup however now with the perfect alternative that might ever drop into his lap. Going through him was one more legend in Ochoa. The Mexican goalie, who gained cult standing when he made eight saves towards Germany on the 2018 World Cup, now needed to cease one other monster in Lewandowski. And Ochoa did simply that, diving low to his left and placing a robust palm in entrance of a weak shot to make the Polish striker’s look ahead to a World Cup objective lengthen additional.
For a crew that hardly appeared like they have been making an attempt, that was the golden alternative that the Poles let slip from their fingers. They usual no different actual probabilities, nor did they ever seem to be a real risk to the Mexicans.
Mexico, on their half, managed the sport with their relentless press and vitality transferring ahead. However their efforts have been hardly ever rewarded and an insistence on enjoying by the flanks allowed any and all alternatives to be swiftly extinguished by the Poles, who had congregated in the course of the park. A draw was a good outcome for each however not many would have complained if Mexico had taken the honours. Each groups took one level apiece and have primarily given Argentina the reprieve they have been hoping for. Saudi Arabia, in the meantime, prime the group with three factors after the primary spherical of group matches.