Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the FIFA World Cup group C clash between Poland and Saudi Arabia happening at the Education City stadium.
Poland registers a crucial win and moves to top of Group C. Focus now on Lionel Messi’s Argentina as it takes on Mexico in another Group C match at 12:30pm IST
Al Abid OUT; Hattan Bahebri IN
Al Abid is down and looks in pain. Replay shows Lewandowski has collided with him while putting in a lob. The players is back up on his feet in a while and the play continues
Seven added minutes. If you’re wondering why so much injury time is added in Qatar WC? - here is the answer
Free kick for Poland as Piatek is fouled. Szczesny runs in to take it, his long ball finds Piatek on the right and he in turn passes it to Lewandowski puts in a dangerous run but Owais does well to deny him. Almost a second for the Barcelona striker
Almalki OUT, Al Oboud IN; Saleh Al Shehri OUT, Nasser Al Dawsari IN
LEWAAAA!!!! THE POLISH TALISMAN FINALLY FINDS THE BACK OF THE NET!! Lewandowski first World Cup goal comes at a crucial juncture. This could well be the nail in the coffin for Saudi
What a chance for Saudi! Abdulhamid, as brilliant as ever, on the left runs into the penalty box and puts in a pass to find Al Malki who hits a low shot but it goes wide. Not an effort you would expect from a player of his calibre
There have been five yellow cards shown in the first half of Poland-Saudi Arabia; the most in the opening half of a WorldCup match since the 2010 final (Spain v Netherlands). (Via Opta)
Throw in for Poland on the far side. Krychowiak throws. The play developes into a dangerous one as Cash brings the ball forward to find Lewandowski in the middle but two defenders mark him. He in turn passes it to Frankouski who takes the ball to the right flank but it is pushes out for a goal kick
Milik OUT, Piatek IN
Free kick for Saudi and it is ina doable position. Al Dawsari takes it and hits it staraight towards the Polish wall
Al Burayk IN, Sultan Al Ghanam IN
Lewandowski!! So unlucky!! A through ball came in and Lewandowski came running ahead of Al Bulayhi to meet the ball. But Al Owais gets a finger to it and the ball crashes onto the post!!!
CLOSEEEE!!!! Goal kick from Szczesny started the attack as he found Frankouski on the left. Milik in the center of the Saudi penalty box recieves a cross and he heads it straight onto the crossbar!!
Zielinski OUT, Kamiski IN
Feras Al Malki!!! SO close. He decides to shoot from the left, it was a decent shot but it brushes past the back of the net. Saudi has been brilliant since the start of this half. Renard did something similar during the Argentina match, can we exect Saudi to replicate that performance?
Chaos inside the Polish penalty box. Al Shehri puts in a ball to find Al Dawsari in the box amid a wave of Poland defenders and his shot is blocked. Al Abid receives the rebound but Szczesny saves yet again!!
Kanno tries to replicate a Richarlison-esque shot but the shot goes wide
Good piece of defense from Poland. Kanno on the left puts in a pass to find Al Dawsari who runs deep into the Polish box but Kivior marks the man perfectly and pushes the ball out for a corner. Nothing comes off it
The game continues to get physical. Free kick for Saudi as Al Abid is pushed down and he himself takes it. A set piece situation for Saudi but Abid thinks different and puts in a short pass that finds Kanno. Nothing comes off it
Al Najei OUT; AL Abid IN
Al Dawsari starts things off
What an electrifying first half. Six yellow cards, three for each side, shown in the first 45 minutes. Both Poland and Saudi Arabia played well. Lewandowski’s side took the lead as Zielinski scored in the 39th minute and Saudi had an opportunity to equalise but Szczesny’s individual brilliance saved Poland as he put in two wonderful saves -- the first denying Al-Dawsari from the spot and stopped Al-Burayk who shot on the rebound. An intriguing second half awaits!!
Poland has not lost a World Cup game after scoring the first goal of a game. There have been 14 occasions that Poland took the lead first and has not lost yet
Saudi making dangerous runs on the flank. This time its Abdulhamid, he recieved the ball on the left and was in a perfect position to cross the ball but Glik intercepts
Lewandowski is brought down by Alamri and the Saudi defender is booked for his challenge on the Polish captain.
10 added minutes!!
VAR intervenes as a possible penalty check comes in for Saudi. Looks like Al Shehri is the guy who has been fouled. Bielik’s tackle hits Shehri’s shin and the referee gives it to Saudi!! PENALTY!! Al Dawsari takes it. Szczesny SAVESSSS. Double save from the goalkeeper as he saves Burayk’s shot on the rebound too. Elite!!
POLAND TAKES THE LEADDDDD!! ZIELINSKI IT IS. Cash finds Lewandowski and the latter put in a shot but Owais denied him but Leandowski was there to recieve the rebound and turned provider. He crosses the ball to Zielenski who finishes things off
Free kick for Saudi. Lewandowski was on his way, deep into the Saudi box but AL Bulayhi does well to deny him of any chance. AL Bulayhi in the process trips and falls and Lewandowski stomps on the defender’s palm. he requires medical assistance but to Saudi’s relief, Al Bulayhi walks off the pitch. Looks like he will be alright
Counter attack from Saudi as AL Malki initiates it by putting in a long ball to find Abdulhamid. The latter does well to control the ball and wastes no time to produce a cross but there are no white jerseys to recieve it.
Almost half an hour into the game and both the teams have played equally good. Saudi got a chance of breakthrough via Kanno but Szczesny stepped up to save the attempt while Poland got a shot to lead via a Bielik header. Exciting final 15 minutes of the half ahead
Saudi manager Herve Renard’s assistant gets the yellow card this time, looks like he got booked for arguing with assistant referees.
Corner for Poland as Cash forces Saudi defenders to put the ball away. Krychowaik takes it and finds Bielik perfectly but the effort is headed away by Al Shehri. What an important interception!!
Al Dawsari yet again with a wonderful run on the left, he attempts a ball into the box but Bielik intercepts
The referee is having quite the busy evening. Abdulelah Almalki gets the yellow this time
The game is getting more physical by every moving minute. Another Polish name booked as Milik gets a yellow as he jumped for the ball with Saudi’s Burayk, hitting the latter’s head in the process.
Abdulhamid comes in clutch. Lewandowski was looking threatening on the left as he was onto the through ball put in from Cash. Abdulhamid marks the Barcelona stiker throughout the run before putting the ball out for a throw
Free kick for Saudi and Burayk takes it. But the shot goes straight into the gloves of Szczesny
Matty Cash gets a yellow this time for his sliding tackle on Al-Dawsari
Poland’s Jakib Kivior gets yellow carded for his rash tackle on Al-Shehri
Brilliant run from Kanno on the left, evading a couple of Saudi players, he finds to Abdulhamid on the far left and gets it back. Kanno tries to finish it on the run and puts in a powerful shot but Szczesny palms it away for a Saudi corner.
Bereszynski from the left puts in a through ball but a timely interception from Burayk helps the ball out of danger. Zielinski had the opportunity for a breakthrough there
Corner for Saudi. Al Najei take it but his cross misses everyone and is evetually cleared
Promising play from Poland as Glick puts in a long ball from his half on the left flank aiming Lewandowski. He finds a running Frankouski who’s first touch is good enough and he in turn dishes out a cross but it proves a bit too good for Milik inside the box.
Free kick for Poland as Bielik is pushed down by Al Malki. The latter is let off ith a warning from the referee
Dangerous searching ball into the Polish box in an attempt to find Al Dawsari but the ball is cut by Matty Cash. Early pressure put in by Saudi here
Poland starts the proceedings as Frankouski has his first kick of the match.
This is just Poland’s third FIFA World Cup game against an Asian nation, losing 2-0 to Korea Republic in 2002, and beating Japan 1-0 in 2018.
Less than five minutes to go and it is now time for the national anthems. First up, its the Polish anthem shortly followed by the Saudi Arabian one. Education City stadium is a sea of green, the Saudi team, on top of coming from a massive win, will have the crowd’s backing going into the clash.
LINE-UPS!
World Cup form:
Poland: Drew 0-0 against Mexico
Saudi Arabia: Won 2-1 against Argentina
Predicted XI
PREVIEW
After shocking Messi’s Argentina in one of the biggest World Cup upsets, the Green Falcons turn their attention to Lewandowski and his Poland team on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia, the second lowest-ranked team in the tournament, could even book its place in the second round with a win – a remarkable achievement for a side with no foreign-based players.
“We will work even harder than in the previous match,” midfielder Sami Al-Najei promised. “Everyone knows that the next match is more important than the previous one.” That “previous one” was Saudia Arabia’s 2-1 win over Argentina, one of the tournament favorites.
“It was an excellent match for us. We were able to show an excellent image for the Saudi Arabia national team,” Saleh Al-Shehri, one of the goal-scorers. “But it is just three points, we haven’t qualified yet.” Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari’s goals blew open Group C and left the other rivals scrambling for points after Mexico’s 0-0 draw with Poland.
After shocking Messi’s Argentina in one of the biggest World Cup upsets, the Green Falcons turn their attention to Lewandowski and his Poland team on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia, the second lowest-ranked team in the tournament, could even book its place in the second round with a win – a remarkable achievement for a side with no foreign-based players.
“We will work even harder than in the previous match,” midfielder Sami Al-Najei promised. “Everyone knows that the next match is more important than the previous one.” That “previous one” was Saudia Arabia’s 2-1 win over Argentina, one of the tournament favorites.
“It was an excellent match for us. We were able to show an excellent image for the Saudi Arabia national team,” Saleh Al-Shehri, one of the goal-scorers. “But it is just three points, we haven’t qualified yet.” Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari’s goals blew open Group C and left the other rivals scrambling for points after Mexico’s 0-0 draw with Poland.
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