November 10, 2024

Lewandowski scores at World Cup, Poland beats Saudis 2-0

Lewandowski #Lewandowski

Poland's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring his side's 2nd goal during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) © Provided by Associated Press – Sports Poland’s Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring his side’s 2nd goal during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — Robert Lewandowski finally scored at the World Cup on Saturday, helping Poland beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 and boosting his team’s chances of reaching the knockout stages.

Saudi Arabia's Salem Al-Dawsari holds his head after missing a chance to score during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic): APTOPIX WCup Poland Saudi Arabia Soccer © Provided by Associated Press – Sports APTOPIX WCup Poland Saudi Arabia Soccer

Lewandowski shed tears after scoring in the 82nd minute. He raced toward the corner with his arms outstretched, then stayed slumped on the field as teammates rushed to congratulate him. He got up, rubbed his face, and blew a kiss to the crowd.

Saudi Arabia's head coach Herve Renard gestures during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) © Provided by Associated Press – Sports Saudi Arabia’s head coach Herve Renard gestures during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

It was the Poland forward’s first World Cup goal in his fifth appearance at the tournament.

Poland's Robert Lewandowski runs with the ball during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco): WCup Poland Saudi Arabia Soccer © Provided by Associated Press – Sports WCup Poland Saudi Arabia Soccer

The 34-year-old Lewandowski also set up the opener in the 40th minute when he kept the ball in play after goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais’ initial block, then laid it back for Piotr Zielinski to knock in.

Saudi Arabia's Abdulelah Al-Amri controls the ball during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) © Provided by Associated Press – Sports Saudi Arabia’s Abdulelah Al-Amri controls the ball during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Al-Owais denied Lewandowski from scoring a second goal late in the match.

Saudi Arabia's Nawaf Al-Abed, left, and Poland's Krystian Bielik, center, fight for the ball during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) © Provided by Associated Press – Sports Saudi Arabia’s Nawaf Al-Abed, left, and Poland’s Krystian Bielik, center, fight for the ball during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Poland was scrambling for long periods at the Education City Stadium as the Saudi team was pushed forward by enthusiastic fans in what seemed like a home game.

Saudi Arabia's Ali Al-Bulaihi heads the ball during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco): WCup Poland Saudi Arabia Soccer © Provided by Associated Press – Sports WCup Poland Saudi Arabia Soccer

Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny saved Salem Al-Dawsari’s penalty at the end of the first half. He then blocked Mohammed Al-Burayk’s shot from the rebound.

Poland's Robert Lewandowski stands on the pitch during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez): WCup Poland Saudi Arabia Soccer © Provided by Associated Press – Sports WCup Poland Saudi Arabia Soccer

Poland will next face Argentina, while Saudi Arabia will meet Mexico in their last Group C games.

Poland's Bartosz Bereszynski, right, heads the ball past Saudi Arabia's Abdulelah Al-Amri during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) © Provided by Associated Press – Sports Poland’s Bartosz Bereszynski, right, heads the ball past Saudi Arabia’s Abdulelah Al-Amri during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

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Poland's Arkadiusz Milik, center, heads the ball during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi): WCup Poland Saudi Arabia Soccer © Provided by Associated Press – Sports WCup Poland Saudi Arabia Soccer

AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Poland's Robert Lewandowski, right, gestures after he scores his side's second goal during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) © Provided by Associated Press – Sports Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, right, gestures after he scores his side’s second goal during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Referee Wilton Sampaio from Brazil, gives the yellow card to Saudi Arabia's Abdulelah Al-Amri, during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) © Provided by Associated Press – Sports Referee Wilton Sampaio from Brazil, gives the yellow card to Saudi Arabia’s Abdulelah Al-Amri, during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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