JAKARTA - The Saudi Arabia national team failed to repeat the surprise they made in Qatar's 2022 World Cup inaugural match. Faced with Poland at the Education City Stadium, Saturday, November 26, the team nicknamed The Green Falcons lost 0-2.
This result made Saudi Arabia fail to become the first team to qualify for the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup. In fact, the competition in Group C is hot again.
Poland currently leads the group standings with four points, followed by Arabs who are only one point adrift. The third position is filled by Mexico with one point and Argentina is fourth without points.
Arabs who won the first match against Argentina, appeared confidently. They played an open game and dared to play Poland.
Even in the 13th minute, Mohamed Kanno fired a shot from outside the penalty area that threatened the goal of Czechowicz's team. Luckily for Poland, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny made a brilliant save to keep the score 0-0.
Polish players seem frustrated in the face of Arab play. Evidently, they actually looked rude.
It was recorded that in five minutes, starting from the 15th minute, there were three Polish players who received yellow cards. They are Jakub Kiwior,
The Polish deadlock finally broke out in the 39th minute. Starting from the movement of Robert Lewandowski, the ball was then presented to Piotr Zielinski.
Calmly, the Napoli player snatched Mohammed Khalil Al Owais' goal, with a right-footed shot.
Poland's first open play goal at the #FIFAWorldCup since 2002! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/QaNa0HXOhK
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 26, 2022
Saudi Arabia actually had a golden opportunity to equalize the position through the white spot in the 45th minute. The punishment given to Poland came after Krystian Bielik committed a foul in the forbidden box.
However, Salem Al Dawsari failed to beat Wojciech Szczesny. The Juventus goalkeeper managed to read the direction of the captain of The Green Falcons.
Mohammed Al-Breik tried to take advantage of the ball of vomiting, but again Szczesny thwarted it. The 1-0 score for Poland lasted until the break.
Arabs increase the intensity of their attacks. Poland is made more defensive and only occasionally counterattacks.
In the 55th minute, Al Dawsari almost made it 1-1 by taking advantage of the chaos in front of the Polish goal. However, Szczesny was still quick to secure the goal from conceding with his foot.
Poland's defense was completely bombarded by Saudi Arabia. The repeated attacks were launched by The Green Falcon. However, there are still no opportunities that have been successfully converted into equaliser goals.
Poland also has a chance. Two of them came from the action of Owned and Lewandowski. Unfortunately, the ball that was executed both only hit the bar and the post.
Saudi Arabia continues to press the Polish defense. However, disaster occurred in the 82nd minute. Blunder Abdulellah Almalki resulted in the second goal which was lodged in his team's goal. He failed to control the ball well so that Lewandowski won it, who then listed his name on the scoreboard.
The goal was the last in this match. Poland also closed the match with a 2-0 victory.
Lineup:
Poland (4-4-1-1): Wojciech Szczesny; Matthew Cash, Bartosz Bereszynski, Kamil Glik, Jakub Kiwior; Kystian Bielik, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Przemyslaw Frankowski, Piotr Zielinski; Arkadiusz Milik; Robert Lewandowski
Saudi Arabia (4-3-3): Mohammed Al Owais; Saud Abdulhamid, Abdulelah Alamri, Ali Albulayhi, Mohammed Al-Burayk; Abdulelah Almalki, Sami Al-Najei, Mohammed Kanno; Feras Al-Birakan, Salem Al Dawsari, Saleh Al-Shehri
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