Mexico 0-0 Poland: Ochoa the hero as Lewandowski flops
Mexican cult hero Guillermo Ochoa saved a Robert Lewandowski penalty to deny him his first World Cup goal and secure a goalless draw against Poland in Pool C.
The opening half was uneventful and dull, spurring just one shot on target in the 45th minute as neither team got a foothold in the game.
And while Ochoa’s penalty save gave El Tri some much-needed momentum in the second half, there were just too many chances left begging by both sides as the game ended 0-0.
The result of this match had grown exponentially in importance before a ball was even kicked after Saudi Arabia pulled off a shock victory over Argentina in the opening game of Group C.
Both teams were no longer simply fighting for a second qualification place but to take full control of the group.
With so much on the line, a tantalising tussle presented itself. But what we got in the first half was a big damp squib.
An uneventful opening ten minutes saw little more than a tame header from Lewandowski, a touch which proved to be his only in the Mexico box all half.
And the remainder of the half was a story of barely half chances.
Poland’s Matty Cash and Mexico’s Jesús Gallardo were the only players who looked threatening as they pushed forward up their respective wings.
Hector Moreno’s header was the first effort Mexico mustered, but it sailed safely over the bar.
A Héctor Herrera cross to Alexis Vega in the 28th minute was probably their best opportunity, another header that failed to threaten as the ball bobbled past the right post.
Both sides resorted to long ball tactics in the second quarter as they desperately searched for chances.
While Mexico’s Hirving Lozano looked better in the closing stages of the half this was but relative to the rest of the game, two decent crosses leading to nothing.
It wasn’t until the 45th minute that the game gifted us the first shot on target. Jorge Sanchez took aim at Poland’s top right corner, stopped well by ‘keeper Wojciech Szczesny.
The opening of the second half looked like the game would remain a dull stalemate, but it wasn’t too long until good old hand of VAR came in to provide some much-needed drama.
A penalty shout from Poland after a 50-50 tussle between Lewandowski and Moreno in the 54th minute was initially turned down by the referee before he overturned his decision following a VAR review.
Robert Lewandowski v Guillermo Ochoa. The Barcelona striker, who has yet to score in a World Cup, versus the mythical keeper.
And it was Ochoa, down to his left with a sharp save, who came out on top in the 56th minute.
Mexico looked to capitalise on the momentum, hammering on Poland’s door.
A glancing header from Edson Álvarez in the 64th was their best chance, Szczesny doing well to swiftly get a left glove to it.
El Tri enjoyed the best of the possession and looked the better team as both sides urgently searched for a winner.
Back and forth chances were exchanged. An effort for Poland from Jakub Kiwior was followed almost immediately with one for from Raul Jiménez at the other end.
It continued to be end-to-end for the rest of the game but with no final result, a tame effort from Mexico’s Uriel Antuna in the dying minutes reflective of much of the match.
The result is a dream for Saudi Arabia and a nightmare for Mexico and Poland, the draw putting both sides knout out hopes in serious jeopardy.
