Match ends, Poland 2, Saudi Arabia 0.
Robert Lewandowski scored his first World Cup goal as Poland earned a crucial victory over Saudi Arabia that leaves Group C wide open.
The Barcelona striker capitalised on an error by Saudi Arabia midfielder Abdulelah Al Malki before sending a composed finish past onrushing goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais.
Lewandowski, who missed a penalty in Tuesday's goalless draw with Mexico, was visibly emotional after ending a run of four World Cup games without finding the net.
Piotr Zielinski had given Poland a first-half lead from Lewandowski's cutback, but Saudi Arabia were awarded a penalty five minutes later for Krystian Bielik's foul on Saleh Al Shehri.
Wojciech Szczesny kept out Salem Al Dawsari's effort before producing a sensational one-handed stop to prevent Mohammed Al Burayk from burying the rebound.
Saud Abdulhamid was denied by Szczesny and Al Brikan shot over the bar in the second half, while Arkadiusz Milik and Lewandowski were both denied by the woodwork as Poland sought to double their lead on the counter-attack.
Lewandowski's late strike ended Saudi Arabia's hopes of building on Tuesday's remarkable victory over Argentina and boosts Poland's chances of reaching the last 16 for the first time since 1986, when they were beaten 4-0 by Brazil in the first knockout round.
Czeslaw Michniewicz's team need just one point against Argentina on Wednesday to qualify from Group C, while Saudi Arabia face Mexico for a place in the last 16.
Wasteful Saudi Arabia rue missed opportunities
Lewandowski will steal the headlines after breaking his World Cup duck, but Saudi Arabia will be bitterly frustrated not to have preserved their unbeaten start to the tournament in Qatar after finding Szczesny in inspired form.
Backed by a fervent and partisan crowd inside Education City Stadium, Saudi Arabia applied heavy early pressure and were denied a superb opener when the former Arsenal goalkeeper palmed Mohammed Kanno's ferocious drive over the crossbar.
Poland looked increasingly rattled as the Green Falcons continued to swarm forward in waves, but Bielik's goal-bound header was cleared to safety by Al Shehri before Zielinski gave them the lead with their first shot on target.
Bielik's challenge on Al Shehri shortly before half-time initially went unpunished by referee Wilton Sampaio, but the Brazilian showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot after reviewing the incident on his pitchside monitor.
If Szczesny's save from Al Dawsari's spot-kick was impressive, his fingertip stop from Al Burayk's follow-up effort was spectacular - and will take some beating at this World Cup.
There was little change to the pattern of play in the second half, with Szczesny saving at the feet of Abdulhamid and Al Brikan sending a fierce, left-footed shot over the bar.
But Poland remained a threat on the counter-attack as Milik steered a powerful header against the crossbar, before Lewandowski's near-post flick also came back off the woodwork.
It was Al Malki's heavy touch that ultimately proved decisive, ending Saudi Arabia's hopes of becoming the first team in Qatar to clinch a last 16 berth.
Lewandowski could have doubled his and Poland's tally in stoppage time, but Al Owais kept out the striker's effort with a strong hand.
Player of the match
CashMatty Cash
Poland
Avg
- Squad number2Player nameCashAverage rating
8.00
- Squad number1Player nameSzczesnyAverage rating
7.88
- Squad number9Player nameLewandowskiAverage rating
7.71
- Squad number20Player nameZielinskiAverage rating
7.63
- Squad number7Player nameMilikAverage rating
7.37
- Squad number18Player nameBereszynskiAverage rating
7.35
- Squad number15Player nameGlikAverage rating
7.21
- Squad number6Player nameBielikAverage rating
7.18
- Squad number13Player nameKaminskiAverage rating
7.09
- Squad number10Player nameKrychowiakAverage rating
7.07
- Squad number24Player nameFrankowskiAverage rating
7.05
- Squad number14Player nameKiwiorAverage rating
6.89
- Squad number23Player namePiatekAverage rating
6.76
Saudi Arabia
Avg
- Squad number21Player nameMohammed Al OwaisAverage rating
5.91
- Squad number23Player nameMohammed KannoAverage rating
5.78
- Squad number9Player nameFeras Al BrikanAverage rating
5.52
- Squad number6Player nameMohammed Al BuraykAverage rating
5.51
- Squad number4Player nameAbdulelah Al AmriAverage rating
5.48
- Squad number5Player nameAli Al BulayhiAverage rating
5.46
- Squad number11Player nameSaleh Al ShehriAverage rating
5.43
- Squad number10Player nameSalem Al DawsariAverage rating
5.42
- Squad number16Player nameSami Al NajiAverage rating
5.41
- Squad number8Player nameAbdulelah Al MalkiAverage rating
5.39
- Squad number12Player nameSaud AbdulhamidAverage rating
5.32
- Squad number18Player nameNawaf Al AbidAverage rating
5.32
- Squad number24Player nameNasser Al DawsariAverage rating
5.22
- Squad number19Player nameHattan BahbriAverage rating
5.10
- Squad number20Player nameAbdulrahman Al ObudAverage rating
5.00
- Squad number2Player nameSultan Al GhannamAverage rating
4.86
Line-ups
Poland
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Szczesny
- 2CashBooked at 16mins
- 15Glik
- 14KiwiorBooked at 15mins
- 18Bereszynski
- 20ZielinskiSubstituted forKaminskiat 63'minutes
- 6Bielik
- 10Krychowiak
- 24Frankowski
- 7MilikBooked at 19minsSubstituted forPiatekat 71'minutes
- 9Lewandowski
Substitutes
- 3Jedrzejczyk
- 4Wieteska
- 5Bednarek
- 8Szymanski
- 11Grosicki
- 12Skorupski
- 13Kaminski
- 16Swiderski
- 17Zurkowski
- 19Szymanski
- 21Zalewski
- 22Grabara
- 23Piatek
- 25Gumny
- 26Skóras
Saudi Arabia
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 21Al Owais
- 12Abdulhamid
- 4Al AmriBooked at 45mins
- 5Al Bulayhi
- 6Al BuraykSubstituted forAl Ghannamat 65'minutes
- 8Al Wahbi Al MalkiBooked at 20minsSubstituted forAl Obudat 85'minutes
- 9Al Brikan
- 16Al NajiSubstituted forAl Abidat 45'minutesSubstituted forBahbriat 90+5'minutes
- 23Kanno
- 10Al Dawsari
- 11Al ShehriSubstituted forAl Shardan Al Dawsariat 86'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Al Rubaie Al Yami
- 2Al Ghannam
- 3Madu
- 14Otayf
- 15Al Hassan
- 17Al Tambakti
- 18Al Abid
- 19Bahbri
- 20Al Obud
- 22Al Suweiti Al Aqidi
- 24Al Shardan Al Dawsari
- 25Asiri
- Referee:
- Wilton Pereira Sampaio
- Attendance:
- 44,259
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home36%
- Away64%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home4
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home18
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Poland 2, Saudi Arabia 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Mohammed Kanno (Saudi Arabia) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Salem Al Dawsari.
Substitution
Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Hattan Bahbri replaces Nawaf Al Abid.
Post update
Corner, Poland. Conceded by Abdulrahman Al Obud.
Post update
Corner, Poland. Conceded by Sultan Al Ghannam.
Post update
Attempt saved. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Foul by Nasser Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia).
Post update
Krzysztof Piatek (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Abdulrahman Al Obud (Saudi Arabia) header from the right side of the six yard box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Nasser Al Dawsari with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Nasser Al Dawsari replaces Saleh Al Shehri.
Substitution
Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Abdulrahman Al Obud replaces Abdulelah Al Malki.
Post update
Abdulelah Al Malki (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jakub Kaminski (Poland).
Goal!
Goal! Poland 2, Saudi Arabia 0. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt missed. Krzysztof Piatek (Poland) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Jakub Kaminski with a cross.
Post update
Foul by Feras Al Brikan (Saudi Arabia).
Post update
Bartosz Bereszynski (Poland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Abdulelah Al Malki (Saudi Arabia) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Foul by Sultan Al Ghannam (Saudi Arabia).
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Comments
Join the conversation
Talk about play acting cheats glad they got beaten and that wasn't a penalty it was a dive.
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
England could learn a thing or too
Well done Poland, even the ref was against you.
I will not watch any match where Saudi is involved!
He's had some bad moments in big tournaments, good to see him have a good one.
Don’t care he’s French, I’d have him over Southgate any day, imagine England’s talent liberated playing his style of football.
Him & Sampaoli’s Chile few yrs ago dragging the international game from the mire