Senegal stave off late Poland fightback
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ByEurosport
Updated 19/06/2018 at 18:03 GMT
World Cup Group H, Spartak Stadium – Poland 1 (Krychowiak 86’) Senegal 2 (Cionek 37’ og, Niang 60’)
Idrissa Gana Gueye of Senegal celebrates the first Senegal goal with team mates of Senegal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group H match between Poland and Senegal at Spartak Stadium on June 19, 2018
Image credit: Getty Images
Senegal chalked up Africa’s first victory at the World Cup with a 2-1 success over lacklustre Poland in Group G.
Thiago Cionek inadvertently diverted Idrissa Gueye’s shot into the net shortly before the half-time break, before a comedy of errors – and a hint of controversy – saw Senegal double their advantage on the hour-mark.
Grzegorz Krychowiak’s hopeless back pass sucked Wojciech Szczesny off his line, with the goalkeeper beaten to the ball by M'Baye Niang, who prodded beyond him and tapped home. However, replays showed he was invited back onto the pitch by the referee from an injury stoppage just moments before bursting clear to score.
Krychowiak’s late header gave Poland hope, but they failed to carve out another chance to force an undeserved draw.
Senegal, competing at their first World Cup since 2002, are level with Japan – who defeated 10-man Colombia earlier in the day – on three points who they face next on June 24. Poland will be hoping for an improved performance against Colombia later that evening.
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Poland, Senegal
Image credit: Getty Images
TALKING POINT
Senegal take advantage of sloppy Poland. Their two goals may have been fortunate but Senegal were worthy winners of an entertaining encounter. Having watched all of their African rivals lose their opening group games, Senegal started on the front-foot and deserved their huge slice of luck. Their first win at the World Cup in 16 years, Senegal undoubtedly showed more endeavour to win the game.
They showed tremendous fight, desire and determination which is in stark contrast to Poland’s pitiful display. Even at two down, Adam Nawałka’s side lacked any urgency to get back into the contest. Robert Lewandowski, who scored 16 goals in qualifying, was left isolated up front, starved of service. And how they missed Monaco’s Kamil Glik in defence. Poland have a mountain to climb if they are to reach the last 16 for the first time since 1986.
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Senegal fans
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH
Sadio Mane (Senegal). Senegal's talisman may not have registered on the scoresheet but he was central to every attack. Working the channels well and leading Senegal's high-pressing game, the Liverpool forward was a key component of Aliou Cissé's gameplan.
PLAYER RATINGS
Poland: Szczesny 5, Pazdan 6, Cionek 6, Milik 6, Krychowiak 4, Grosicki 6, Rybus 6, Blaszczykowski 5, Zielinski 5, Piszczek 5, Lewandowski 6. Subs: Bednarek 5, Kownacki 5, Bereszynsk N/A.
Senegal: N'Diaye 7, Wague 6, Sane 6, Koulibaly 7, Sabaly 7, Gueye 7, N’Diaye 6, Sarr 7, Mane 8, Niang 8, Diouf 7. Subs: Konate 5, N‘Doye 5, Kouyate 5.
KEY MOMENTS
18’ - POOR FINISH! Sabaly breaks from a deep lying midfield area, running into space before threading a lovely through-pass into the path of Niang. But from a decent position, the Senegal forward drags his shot well, well wide.
38’ – GOAL! Poland 0-1 Senegal. Niang plucks the ball out of the air, wriggles off a challenge to drive forward and passes to Mane. He tees up Gueye who rifles a low shot from the top of the box, it takes a wicked deflection off Cionek, wrong-footing the goalkeeper and ending up in the back of the net.
50' - GOOD SAVE! Lewandowski steps up to take the free-kick which is in a central position, around 25 yards out... he curls it up and over the wall but N'Diaye is at full stretch to push it behind for a corner.
60’ – GOAL! Poland 0-2 Senegal. Crazy defending from Poland - a comedy of errors see them concede their second of the match! What is Krychowiak doing?! He tries to pass the ball back to Szczesny from near enough the half-way line but he doesn't get enough on it! The goalkeeper doesn't know whether to come or not, he eventually decides to but doesn't reach it and Niang races in and taps it into an empty net.
69’ - WIDE! It's Poland's best passage of play, but they fail to make it count. Piszczek drills a low cross from the right to Milik but his first-time effort at the near post fails to find the target.
86' - GOAL! Poland 1-2 Senegal. Somehow, someway Poland are back in the game with four minutes to play! Grosick's free-kick delivery is headed in by Krychowiak and Poland have a goal back... or do they? It's gone to VAR, was it offside? No! It's going to count!
KEY STATS
- Senegal are one of just eight countries to have won at least half of their World Cup games (3/6), and they are the only African nation to do so.
- Thiago Cionek is the first Polish player to score an own goal at a World Cup tournament.
- Poland have now failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine World Cup games, since beating Portugal 1-0 in 1986.
- Poland have won just one of their eight opening games at World Cup tournaments, beating Argentina 3-2 in 1974 (D3 L3).
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