Lewandowski denied first goal in Mexico-Poland stalemate

Poland face Saudi Arabia next on Saturday when Mexico meet Argentina

ROBERT Lewandowski was denied a first World Cup goal when Guillermo Ochoa saved the striker’s second-half penalty to earn Mexico a deserved share of the spoils against Poland on Tuesday.

Barcelona player Lewandowski’s effort from 12 yards was one of only two attempts on target from the Poles. The Central Americans were the more progressive team, but similarly short on clear opportunities. Wojcieh Szczesny in Poland’s goal readjusted his footing to repel a deflected Edson Alvarez shot and Alexis Vega skied a late strike from distance.

Poland had their golden chance when Lewandowski was impeded in the box by Hector Moreno, as the pair grappled in pursuit of a forward ball. Referee Chris Beath awarded the penalty after a VAR check but following a wait nearing four minutes Lewandowski saw his attempt to Ochoa’s left parried away by the veteran goalkeeper.

Poland’s record scorer Lewandowski has 76 international goals but his wait for a World Cup strike

extends to a fifth game and his team’s meeting with Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Key moment

Unquestionably the penalty stop from Ochoa that prevented Poland burgling all three points against a game Mexico team.

Lewandowski showed no outward

sign of butterflies as he respotted the ball during an extended wait to take his kick. The attempt was accurately placed but Lewandowski will probably concede he could have done with applying more power. Ochoa, at his fifth World Cup and ever-present in Mexico’s campaigns in Brazil and Russia, was equal to the

strike.

The 37-year-old sprang to his left to save and add another clean sheet to a CV that features World Cup shutouts against Brazil and Germany. More importantly, Ochoa banked his team a vital point in advance of Group C fixtures against Argentina and Tuesday’s headline

makers, Saudi Arabia.

Ochoa’s penalty save from Robert Lewandowski is the first one to be saved by a Mexican goalkeeper (excluding shootouts) since Oscar Bonfiglio denied Argentina’s Fernando Paternoster in 1930.

Ochoa was declared player of the match.

(AFP) Mexico’s goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa stops a penalty kick by Poland’s forward Robert Lewandowski during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Mexico and Poland at Stadium 974 in Doha on Tuesday.

(AFP) Poland’s forward Robert Lewandowski (left) fights for the ball with Mexico’s midfielder Edson Alvarez during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Mexico and Poland at Stadium 974 in Doha on Tuesday.

(AFP) Mexican workers and football fans watch the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Mexico and Poland on TV at La Merced market in Mexico City on Tuesday.