Football World Cup 2018: Senegal defeats Poland with two lucky goals

The first half was unspectacular until the 37th minute, when Poland center-back Thiago Cionek deflected a shot by Idrissa Gueye into his own goal.

In the second half, Poland had trouble with the strong pressing of the Senegalese, who were more spirited in the duels. The Africans looked more lively, physically superior to the Poles and knew how to stop the attacking attempts of Lewandowski and Co.

Then, in the 60th minute, there was a curious tap-in goal. After a failed attack by the Polish team, Senegal tried to initiate a counterattack. A Polish defender intercepted the attack and played the ball back from the center line. However, the last defender Bednarek was surprised by this and sprinted after the ball, not noticing Mbaye Niang, who was let back into the field by the referee almost at the same time as the return pass and realized his chance. The Senegalese was in front of the onrushing goalkeeper Szczesny on the ball and ran past Bednarek and could then shoot unhindered for 2:0.

The reaction of the Poles to the second goal of the Africans was moderate. The Poles were unable to set the scene for their attackers with their short passing game inside the 16. Only when the ball came to rest did it become dangerous. After a free kick in the 85th minute, Grzegorz Krychowiak scored a beautiful goal into the right corner with his head. After that, the Poles tried to throw everything forward again. But it was too late for the final offensive. And so Poland lost as the second European nation its opening match at this World Cup.