Mexico’s goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa blocks a penalty kick by Poland’s Robert Lewandowski through the FIFA World Cup group C match between Mexico and Poland. AP
Doha: 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 will be a “enormous dream” to lastly get off the mark on the worldwide stage.
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As a substitute, the 34-year-old’s dream become a nightmare when he gained a second-half penalty, solely to see Ochoa deny him from the spot.
Lewandowski, Poland’s document scorer with 76 targets, has netted 18 instances in 19 appearances for Barcelona, the membership he joined within the close-season after bagging 344 targets 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 the most effective likelihood of a cagey sport and Mexico ruing their failure to show territorial dominance into targets.
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 didn’t cease hundreds 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 realm 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 nearly fully crammed with vociferous, flag-waving Mexicans.
Lewandowski woe
As the principle risk to their group’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 vast.
With Poland curiously content material to take a seat again for lengthy durations and Mexico’s vitality ranges nearly matching their raucous followers, it was Martino’s facet who carried the higher 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.
FULL TIME WHISTLE 🇲🇽 🇵🇱
A goalless draw for Mexico and Poland, as Guillermo Ochoa the hero, denies Robert Lewandowski from the penalty spot.
Regardless of that, the Biało-czerwoni come out with a degree of their group opener❗️
What did you consider Poland’s efficiency?#MEXPOL 0:0 pic.twitter.com/crBWufsbQZ
— PSN Futbol (@PSN_Futbol) November 22, 2022
Remoted by Poland’s conservative techniques, Lewandowski mustered only one contact within the Mexico space and accomplished solely three passes within the first half.
Lewandowski couldn’t be contained eternally 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 nice 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 cease from Szczesny as Mexico tried in useless to benefit from their escape.
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