Robert Lewandowski suffered contemporary World Cup distress because the Poland striker’s penalty was saved by Guillermo Ochoa in a 0-0 draw towards Mexico on Tuesday. Lewandowski has by no means scored at a World Cup and the Barcelona striker had admitted it might be a “large dream” to lastly get off the mark on the worldwide stage. As a substitute, the 34-year-old’s dream changed into a nightmare when he received a second-half penalty, solely to see Ochoa deny him from the spot.
Lewandowski, Poland’s document scorer with 76 objectives, has netted 18 instances in 19 appearances for Barcelona, the membership he joined within the close-season after bagging 344 objectives in eight trophy-filled years at Bayern Munich.
But the World Cup has proved hellish for Lewandowski, with this newest goalless outing coming after he failed to attain in Poland’s three video games once they bowed out within the group stage 4 years in the past.
Saudi Arabia’s gorgeous 2-1 win over Argentina earlier on Tuesday had blown open the race to progress to the final 16 from Group C.
However this was a irritating draw for each groups, with Lewandowski losing one of the best likelihood of a cagey sport and Mexico ruing their failure to show territorial dominance into objectives.
Sponsored by Vuukle
Mexico boss Gerardo Martino had endured stinging criticism from followers and media following some poor pre-tournament performances, prompting him to dub himself “public enemy primary”.
That did not cease 1000’s of Mexico supporters making the lengthy journey to help ‘El Tri’ in Qatar.
The distinctive Stadium 974 — whose construction was partially created from a vibrant tapestry of delivery containers — overlooks Doha’s port and the world was reworked into a vibrant fiesta as green-clad, sombrero-wearing Mexicans partied forward of the night kick-off.
It was an much more vibrant scene contained in the stadium, with the estimated 40,000 capability virtually completely crammed with vociferous, flag-waving Mexicans.
– Lewandowski woe –
As the principle risk to their workforce’s hopes, Lewandowski was instantly subjected to ear-splitting jeers from the Mexico followers.
Lewandowski tried to silence the din with an early header however his effort deflected harmlessly huge.
With Poland curiously content material to sit down again for lengthy intervals and Mexico’s power ranges virtually matching their raucous followers, it was Martino’s facet who carried the better risk.
Alexis Vega looped his header inches previous the far put up from Hector Herrera’s cross.
Mexico adopted that shut shave with one other incisive transfer that ended with Jesus Gallardo’s shot being palmed away by Wojciech Szczesny.
Jorge Sanchez’s deflected effort whistled simply over Szczesny’s crossbar as Mexico saved up the stress.
Remoted by Poland’s conservative ways, Lewandowski mustered only one contact within the Mexico space and accomplished solely three passes within the first half.
Lewandowski could not be contained perpetually and his tenacity earned the 57th-minute penalty when he barged into the Mexico space, forcing a crude problem from Hector Moreno that was dominated a spot-kick after VAR intervened.
However Lewandowski’s World Cup woe wasn’t over because the 37-year-old Ochoa plunged to his left to make a effective save, leaving the striker holding his head in despair.
It was Lewandowski’s second successive penalty miss after he failed to attain for Barcelona towards Almeria earlier this month.
Henry Martin’s glancing header drew a great cease from Szczesny as Mexico tried in useless to take advantage of their escape.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
Argentina Will Win The FIFA World Cup: Followers To NDTV
Subjects talked about on this article