DOHA, Qatar (AP) — After Guillermo Ochoa had made one of many greatest penalty saves of his profession — in opposition to Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, no much less — his ideas instantly turned to Mexico’s subsequent World Cup opponent.And who can blame him, as a result of that subsequent sport is in opposition to Argentina on Saturday.Ochoa stopped Lewandowski’s second-half penalty to protect a 0-0 draw with Poland on Tuesday. The sport was performed shortly after Saudi Arabia shook up Group C with a 2-1 upset victory over Argentina.If Mexico may also exploit Argentina’s vulnerabilities, the workforce will probably be in good place for the group finale in opposition to Saudi Arabia.“From the beginning we knew we had a difficult group,” Ochoa mentioned. “We wouldn’t underestimate any opponent. We have now a tricky opponent within the subsequent sport. However Mexico can also be a tricky workforce.”Lewandowski is Poland’s all-time main scorer with 76 targets, however he stays with out one on the World Cup.The Barcelona striker was awarded the penalty following a VAR overview after Hector Moreno received maintain of his shirt and pulled him down. He took a deep breath earlier than his try.Ochoa, taking part in in his fifth World Cup, dived to make the cease, then got here up yelling in celebration, sending the gang into chants of “Memo!”Whereas Mexico dominated possession, Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny turned away all 4 of El Tri’s photographs on purpose.Mexico has made it to the knockout spherical within the final seven World Cups, however the “quinto partido,” or fifth sport, has eluded the workforce. El Tri’s greatest displaying on the World Cup was reaching the quarterfinals in 1970 and 1986 as hosts.Poland was making its second straight World Cup look. The workforce was eradicated within the group stage in 2018.Jorge Sanchez had an excellent probability for Mexico within the forty fourth minute however Szczesny, who performs for Juventus, pushed it over the crossbar.“It’s a pity we weren’t in a position to rating. Nevertheless it was an in depth match and there weren’t very many alternatives on each side,” Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz mentioned.It was Ochoa’s denial of Lewandowski, who moved from Bayern Munich to Barcelona this season and has 13 targets in 14 appearances, that introduced the stadium full of largely inexperienced jerseys to their toes.“It looks as if we’re taking part in at residence,” Ochoa mentioned of the contingent of followers who traveled to Qatar.It wasn’t the primary time Ochoa had come up huge on soccer’s greatest stage: In 2014 he made six saves in a scoreless draw with Brazil, which was among the many favorites because the event’s host. He even denied Brazil striker Neymar on a header and afterward referred to as it the “sport of a lifetime.”El Tri has been dogged by criticism heading into the World Cup.Mexico’s all-time main scorer, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, was left off the roster for Qatar by coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino. Hernandez, who presently performs for the LA Galaxy, had performed within the final three World Cups, however hasn’t appeared with the nationwide workforce since 2019.Martino was additionally criticized for together with Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Raul Jimenez, who has struggled with a groin harm. Changed by Henty Martin to start out, Jimenez got here in instead within the second half.Martino mentioned Argentina’s loss will change Mexico’s preparations.“No one ought to be stunned. These are the outcomes that may solely occur within the first stage of the World Cup,” Martino mentioned. “We thought that will be a win by Argentina.”The match was performed at Stadium 974, named after Qatar’s nation code. The stadium was constructed from previous transport containers and will probably be ultimately dismantled — Qatar’s answer to the “white elephant” stadiums that went largely unused after different World Cups.There was additionally historical past made. Stephanie Frappart of France turned the primary girl to officiate a males’s World Cup match, serving because the fourth official.Frappart joins Japan’s Yamashita Yoshimi and Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga among the many 36 referees chosen for the event.___
Mexico and Poland play out 0-0 draw at World Cup
