Lewandowski has by no means scored at a World Cup and the Barcelona striker had admitted it might be a ‘big dream’ to lastly get off the mark on the worldwide stage.
Poland ahead Robert Lewandowski reacts after he missed a penalty shot throughout the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C soccer match between Mexico and Poland at Stadium 974 in Doha on 22 November 2022. Picture: François-Xavier MARIT/AFP
DOHA – Robert Lewandowski suffered contemporary World Cup distress because the Poland striker’s penalty was saved by Guillermo Ochoa in a 0-0 draw in opposition to Mexico on Tuesday.
Lewandowski has by no means scored at a World Cup and the Barcelona striker had admitted it might be a “huge dream” to lastly get off the mark on the worldwide stage.
Instead, the 34-year-old’s dream become a nightmare when he received a second-half penalty, solely to see Ochoa deny him from the spot.
Lewandowski, Poland’s file scorer with 76 targets, has netted 18 occasions in 19 appearances for Barcelona, the membership he joined in the close-season after bagging 344 targets in eight trophy-filled years at Bayern Munich.
Yet 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 in 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.
But this was a irritating draw for each groups, with Lewandowski losing the very best probability of a cagey recreation 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 number one”.
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 realm was remodeled 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 solely full of vociferous, flag-waving Mexicans.
LEWANDOWSKI WOE
As the primary risk to their crew’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 extensive.
With Poland curiously content material to sit down again for lengthy intervals and Mexico’s power 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 submit 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 stored up the stress.
Isolated by Poland’s conservative techniques, Lewandowski mustered only one contact in the Mexico space and accomplished solely three passes in the primary half.
Lewandowski could not 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.
But Lewandowski’s World Cup woe wasn’t over because the 37-year-old Ochoa plunged to his left to make a positive save, leaving the striker holding his head in despair.
It was Lewandowski’s second successive penalty miss after he failed to attain for Barcelona in opposition to Almeria earlier this month.
Henry Martin’s glancing header drew a very good cease from Szczesny as Mexico tried in useless to benefit from their escape.