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Last updated on 14 minutes ago.From the section World Cup
Robert Lewandowski scored his first World Cup goal after robbing Abdelulelah Al Malki of possessionRobert Lewandowski scored his first World Cup goal as Poland earned a crucial victory over Saudi Arabia that leaves Group C wide open.
The Barcelona striker capitalised on an error by Saudi Arabia midfielder Abdelulelah Al Malki before sending a composed finish past onrushing goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais.
Lewandowski was visibly emotional after ending a run of four World Cup games without finding the net.
Piotr Zielinski had given Poland a first-half lead from Lewandowski's cutback, but Saudi Arabia were awarded a penalty five minutes later for Krystian Bielik's foul on Saleh Al Shehri.
Wojciech Szczesny kept out Feras Al Brikan's effort before producing a sensational one-handed stop to prevent Mohammed Al Burayk from burying the rebound.
Saud Abdulhamid was denied by Sczcesny and Al Brikan shot over the bar in the second half, while Arkadiusz Milik and Lewandowski were both denied by the woodwork as Poland sought to double their lead on the counter-attack.
Lewandowski's late strike ended Saudi Arabia's hopes of building on Tuesday's remarkable victory over Argentina and boosts Poland's hopes of reaching the last 16 for the first time since 1986, when they were beaten 4-0 by Brazil in the first knockout round.
Czeslaw Michniewicz's team play Argentina in their final Group C game on Wednesday, while Saudi Arabia face Mexico at the same time.
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Poland
Squad number1Player nameSzczesny
Squad number2Player nameCash
Squad number14Player nameKiwior
Squad number15Player nameGlik
Squad number18Player nameBereszynski
Squad number20Player nameZielinski
Squad number6Player nameBielik
Squad number10Player nameKrychowiak
Squad number24Player nameFrankowski
Squad number7Player nameMilik
Squad number9Player nameLewandowski
Squad number13Player nameKaminski
Squad number23Player namePiatek
Saudi Arabia
Squad number21Player nameMohammed Al Owais
Squad number12Player nameSaud Abdulhamid
Squad number4Player nameAbdulelah Al Amri
Squad number5Player nameAli Al Bulayhi
Squad number6Player nameMohammed Al Burayk
Squad number8Player nameAbdulelah Al Malki
Squad number9Player nameFeras Al Brikan
Squad number16Player nameSami Al Naji
Squad number23Player nameMohammed Kanno
Squad number10Player nameSalem Al Dawsari
Squad number11Player nameSaleh Al Shehri
Squad number2Player nameSultan Al Ghannam
Squad number18Player nameNawaf Al Abid
Squad number19Player nameHattan Bahbri
Squad number20Player nameAbdulrahman Al Obud
Squad number24Player nameNasser Al Dawsari
Line-ups
Poland
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Szczesny
- 2CashBooked at 16mins
- 14KiwiorBooked at 15mins
- 15Glik
- 18Bereszynski
- 20ZielinskiSubstituted forKaminskiat 63'minutes
- 6Bielik
- 10Krychowiak
- 24Frankowski
- 7MilikBooked at 19minsSubstituted forPiatekat 71'minutes
- 9Lewandowski
Substitutes
- 3Jedrzejczyk
- 4Wieteska
- 5Bednarek
- 8Szymanski
- 11Grosicki
- 12Skorupski
- 13Kaminski
- 16Swiderski
- 17Zurkowski
- 19Szymanski
- 21Zalewski
- 22Grabara
- 23Piatek
- 25Gumny
- 26Skóras
Saudi Arabia
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 21Al Owais
- 12Abdulhamid
- 4Al AmriBooked at 45mins
- 5Al Bulayhi
- 6Al BuraykSubstituted forAl Ghannamat 65'minutes
- 8Al Wahbi Al MalkiBooked at 21minsSubstituted forAl Obudat 85'minutes
- 9Al Brikan
- 16Al NajiSubstituted forAl Abidat 45'minutesSubstituted forBahbriat 90+5'minutes
- 23Kanno
- 10Al Dawsari
- 11Al ShehriSubstituted forAl Shardan Al Dawsariat 86'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Al Rubaie Al Yami
- 2Al Ghannam
- 3Madu
- 14Otayf
- 15Al Hassan
- 17Al Tambakti
- 18Al Abid
- 19Bahbri
- 20Al Obud
- 22Al Suweiti Al Aqidi
- 24Al Shardan Al Dawsari
- 25Asiri
Referee:Wilton Pereira Sampaio
Attendance:44,259
Live Text
Match ends, Poland 2, Saudi Arabia 0.
Second Half ends, Poland 2, Saudi Arabia 0.
Attempt missed. Mohammed Kanno (Saudi Arabia) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Salem Al Dawsari.
Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Hattan Bahbri replaces Nawaf Al Abid.
Corner, Poland. Conceded by Abdulrahman Al Obud.
Corner, Poland. Conceded by Sultan Al Ghannam.
Attempt saved. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Foul by Nasser Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia).
Krzysztof Piatek (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Abdulrahman Al Obud (Saudi Arabia) header from the right side of the six yard box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Nasser Al Dawsari with a cross.
Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Nasser Al Dawsari replaces Saleh Al Shehri.
Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Abdulrahman Al Obud replaces Abdulelah Al Malki.
Abdulelah Al Malki (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jakub Kaminski (Poland).
Goal! Poland 2, Saudi Arabia 0. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
Attempt missed. Krzysztof Piatek (Poland) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Jakub Kaminski with a cross.
Foul by Feras Al Brikan (Saudi Arabia).
Bartosz Bereszynski (Poland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. Abdulelah Al Malki (Saudi Arabia) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Foul by Sultan Al Ghannam (Saudi Arabia).
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