Guardian match report: Poland 1-2 Senegal
David Hytner was at the Spartak Stadium to see Senegal beat Poland in a match that was not without its controversies.
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Angry with Gregor Krychowiak for costing his side a stupid goal? Think Robert Lewandowski could have done more? Exact a brutal revenge here.
Match report: Poland 1-2 Senegal
Here’s our first take on events at the Spartak Stadium, which will keep you going until the Guardian’s man in Moscow, dishy David Hytner, files his report.
Full-time: Poland 1-2 Senegal
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeep! It’s all over at the Spartak Stadium, where Senegal have taken the points at Poland’s expense. They’re the first African team out of five to, not only avoid defeat, but win at this summer’s World Cup. A Thiago Cionek own-goal gave them a first-half lead, which was doubled when M’Baye Niang capitalised on a hideously undercooked backpass from Gregorz Krychowiak to score. Krychowiak pulled a goal back for Poland with a few minutes to go, but it wasn’t enough. Senegal go back to their training base as thoroughly deserving winners.
Updated
90+4 min: Senegal go on the attack, with Sadio Mane on the ball. He dawdles in possession a few yards outside the Poland penalty area and is robbed.
90+2 min: There are two minutes of added time remaining. In the meantime, here’s achingly cool Senegal manager Aliou Cisse, the youngest manager at this World Cup.
This could be the gif of my life. #SEN pic.twitter.com/evPHlOG89O
— kelly_welles (@kelly_welles) June 19, 2018
90+1 min: Poland win a corner. The ball’s swung into the mixer but N’Diaye claims with supreme confidence.
88 min: Krychowiak’s goal came from a free-kick (not a corner) sent into the Senegal penalty area by Grosicki. Completely unmarked, the villain of the piece for Senegal’s second went some way towards redeeming himself with a free header past Khadim N’Diaye.
86 min: Krychowiak’s goal comes moments after Sarr had taken a dive in the Poland penalty area when Rybus slid in to tackle him. It was a scurrilous piece of play-acting from the cheeky Senegalese.
GOAL! Poland 1-2 Senegal (Krychowiak )
Krychowiak scores with a header from a free-kick, but his effort is being referred to the VAR officials. It stands!
Updated
81 min: Sarr goes down “injured” and the referee tells him to get up. Seconds later, he’s managed to shake whatever was ailing him and picks up a pass and sprints into the Poland penalty area from the right flank. Rybus dives in to ... oh, hold on.
80 min: Poland’s reaction to going two down has been ... to do nothing. They’re plugging away with the same tactics that have served them so poorly for 80 minutes. “When things aren’t working you have to try to do something to change them,” says Ally McCoist. “Just go long for a few minutes, play it forward to Lewandowski. Just do something different.”
79 min: Senegal substitution: Moussa Konate on for Niang. Poland substitution: Dawid Kownacki on for Milik.
74 min: Looking at a replay of Senegal’s second goal ... crikey, what a meltdown. From inside the Senegal half, on the edge of the centre-circle, Krychowiak hoisted a huge back-pass towards Wojciech Szczesney. Having just been waved back on to the pitch, Niang saw what was happening and sprinted towards the Poland penalty area.
With Bednarek just sort of standing a couple of yards outside it waiting for Szczesny to claim the ball after haring out of his area, Niang darted between both Poles, flicked the ball goalwards and had the relatively straight forward task of advancing a few yards and scoring into an empty net while Szczesny and Bednarek stood glaring at each other and Krychowiak.
Updated
72 min: Gueye is booked for a foul on Robert Lewandowski. Senegal substitution from just after they scored their second goal: Mama Biram Diouf off, Birmingham City’s Cheick Ndoye on.
69 min: Piszczek drills a low cross to the near post, where Milik had found a pocket of space courtesy of a good run. He’s first to the ball but shoots the wrong side of the upright from four or five yards.
65 min: Poland’s players were complaining in the wake of that goal and I think it’s because Niang had left the field after suffering an injury and they believe he had either returned without the referee’s permission or come on in an advantageous position to make the most of Krychowiak’s tomfoolery.
It seems the ref had waved him back on and after that it was just tough luck on Poland, who only have themselves to blame for that defensive calamity.
62 min: Awful stuff from Poland. From the centre of the pitch and for reasons best known to himself, Krychowiak tries to loft a 50 yard pass back to his own goalkeeper. His pass drops woefully short and with Niang and Szczesny both charging at the ball from opposite directions, the Senegal wins it and has the straightforward task of shooting into an empty net. Bednarek could have done better too, but looked powerless to stop Niang as he raced Szczesny to the ball.
GOAL! Poland 0-2 Senegal (Niang 60)
A hideous mistake by Krychowiack gifts Senegal a second goal.
Updated
58 min: “Everything looks a struggle! Everything looks a struggle!” says Ally McCoist to Jon Champion on the UK coverage of this game, upon asked for his thoughts on how Poland are doing. The pair make for a very entertaining duo and have just been laughing at their discovery that former Senegal, Liverpool, Bolton and Rangers player El-Hadji Diouf now works in Dakar as a government goodwill ambassador. “There’s hope for us all,” chuckles Ally.
56 min: Poland are playing with a bit more urgency in this second half, but have yet to create a chance of note from open play. They do so as I type - with Rybus sending an inviting cross to the back post, where it drops invitingly for Lukasz Piszczek. He sidefoots an atrocious volley well wide of the upright.
54 min: Lewandowski is penalised for a foul on Ismaila Sarr as the pair tussle for the ball down by the byline to the right of the Senegal goal.
50 min: SAVED!!! Lewandowski takes the free-kick and it’s a good one – on target, but lacking that bit of zip which might have taken it past Khadim N’Diaye in the Senegal goal.
Updated
49 min: Lewandowski wins the ball on the halfway line and gallops forward. He’s brought down illegally by Salif Sane on the edge of the Senegal penalty area and the Senegal centre-back gets a yellow card. Free-kick for Poland, a yard or two from the D on the Senegal penalty area.
Updated
46 min: Jan Bednarek, who plays for Southampton, looks badly hurt after his collision with Youssouf-Sabaly but is up and looking alert after receiving treatment. He’s on for Kuba Blaszczykowski, which is good news for those of us who type minute-by-minute reports for a living.
Second half: Poland 0-1 Senegal
46 min: This match seems to be getting a bad press on Twitter, which is obviously the most accurate barometer of informed public opinion we have, but I’ve found it quite entertaining so far. Sadio Mane has been fairly quiet, as has Poland’s most creative player, Piotr Zielinski. Robert Lewandowski had little or no service in that first half.
Play resumes, with Bednarek on for Poland. He’s immediately clattered in an accidental collision.
Half-time: Poland 0-1 Senegal
Peeep! The players troop off for their half-time cuppa, with Senegal leading by the only goal of the game. It’s been entertaining enough, but far from a classic. Thiago Cionek’s own-goal separates the sides; the Polish central defender was helpless to do much about it after Idrissa Gueye’s low drive went in off his shin after 37 minutes.
45 min: We’re into added time at the end of the first half. There’s a touch of England-against-Tunisia about Poland’s performance - they’re looking toothless up front and lacking that little bit of creative flair in midfield that might cause Senegal problems.
44 min: The clock ticks towards half-time with Senegal continuing to dominate. Krychowiak is penalised for a foul ion Idrissa Gueye about 10 yards inside the Poland half. He’s already on a yellow card and can count himself extremely lucky not to have got a second one for that late tackle.
41 min: Senegal corner. The ball’s floated into the mixer and burley Senegal centre-back defender Salif Sane leaps highest. He doesn’t make decent contact with the ball and admonishes himself in the strongest possible terms after heading the ball straight into the ground. He should have scored there.
40 min: Fifa’s boffins have decreed that Gueye’s shot was going narrowly wide before it was deflected, so Senegal’s opener will officially go down as a Thiago Cionek own-goal.
38 min: Dearie me, how’s your luck? Senegal take the lead through a deflected goal. Mane squared the ball for Idrissa Gueye several yards outside the penalty area and the Everton man took a shot. His low drive took a deflection off Cionek and went into the bottom right-hand corner with goalkeeper Szczesny hopelessly wrong-footed.
Updated
GOAL! Poland 0-1 Senegal
Senegal lead through a flukey deflected own goal off Thiago Cionek.
Updated
36 min: Theres a break in play as both Sarr and Kuba receive treatment from their respective medical teams.
33 min: Now Niang gets down the right flank and squares the ball for Diouf. He leaps to head goalwards, but is flagged for offside.
Updated
32 min: Ismaila Sarr gets down the inside right for Senegal again and squares the ball, but it’s cleared.
28 min: Not so much end to end as box to box for the past few minutes, in a game that is very open ... up to a point. Both sides look fairly evenly matched, but good chances have been conspicuous by their absence. On the UK Coverage, Allly McCoist is on co-comms duty and is currently bemoaning the lack of movement from the attacking players of both sides. “Maybe they’re showing each other a bit too much respect,” he muses, as he points to the reluctance of the full-backs of both sides to get forward.
25 min: Senegal go on the attack again, a series of slick passes coming to an end when Mama Biram Diouf is unable to control a clever Niang pass into the penalty area.
23 min: Kuba takes a poor first touch on the edge of the Senegal penalty area and goes down looking for a free-kick. The ball breaks to Lewandowski, with his back to goal. He swivels and shoots, but doesn’t get hold of the ball properly. Wide.
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20 min: Poland attack and Krychowiak tries a shot from distance. It’s deflected towards Piotr Zielinski, who is on the stretch and unable to control his header on goal properly.
Updated
19 min: M’Baye Niang is looking a real handful here and is sent galloping in behind the Polish defence by a wonderful, weighted defence-splitting pass by Youssouf Sabaly. He veers towards goal, but his shot-cum-cross towards Mane goes horribly wide of the far post.
16 min: Senegal right-winger Ismaila Sarr goes on a marauding run down the inside right and is tackled by Rybus outside the penalty area. He manages to stumble some distance before going to ground inside the penalty area, but no free-kick or penalty is forthcoming. “Ismaila, no!” as Freddie Mercury once said.
14 min: Kalidou Koulibaly concedes a corner as Poland get out of their own half for the first time in several minutes. Nothing comes of it.
12 min: Gregorz Krychowiak, who spent last season on loan at West Brom from Paris Saint-Germain, gets booked for a foul on Niang and Senegal have a free-kick about 35 yards from goal. Sadio Mane’s free-kick goes horribly wide; he was too far out.
Updated
10 min: Senegal are dominating proceedings at the moment and are attacking down the left repeatedly, sending in crosses. They’re looking quite impressive so far.
9 min: Niang does well to keep the ball in play down by the byline and lofts in a cross. Sarr looks ready to volley past Szczesny from seven or eight yards, but Maciej Rybus is alert to the danger and makes an important clearance. Good defending from the Lokomotiv Moscow man.
8 min: Senegal attack down the left flank with Niang on the ball. He drills a low cross into the penalty area, but Szczesny intercepts.
7 min: M’Baye Niang takes the corner for Senegal, but fails to clear the first man at the near post.
6 min: Thiago Cionek concedes a needless corner after a breakdown in communication with his goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
5 min: Poland attack down the left flank with Piotr Zielinsky on the ball. He picks out Kamil Grosicki, who attempts to dink the ball towards Robert Lewandowski in the penalty area. Senegal clear.
Updated
3 min: A slow start as both teams attempt to suss each other out and settle into something resembling a rhythm.
2 min: That’s Jakub Blaszczykowski, who goes by the nickname “Kuba” and in the interests of preserving my sanity, will be referred to accordingly for the remainder of this match.
Updated
1 min: Jakub Blaszczykowski gets on the ball early doors playing on the right wing for Poland. He’s makiong his 100th appearance for Poland today, so hats off to him.
Updated
Poland v Senegal is go!!!
1 min: Senegal get the ball rolling playing all in green. Poland’s players wear white shirts, red shorts and white socks.
Not long now ...
The teams are in the tunnel preparing to walk out on to the pitch. Robert Lewandowski leads out Poland, while Sadio Mane skippers Senegal. It’s time for the National anthems.
Several English-based players for Senegal
Liverpool forward Sadio Mane is Senegal’s star player, but is just one of several players in the squad to earn their corn in England. Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye also starts, while Stoke striker Mama Biram Diouf will play up front for the Lions of Ternaga. Alfred N’Diaye, who also starts, spent last season on loan at Wolves. Substitute Cheikou Kouyate plays for West Ham.
Poland's line-up
Kamil Glik sits this one out, as expected. while Wojiech Szczesny gets the nod in goal ahead of Lucasz Fabianski.
Poland v Senegal line-ups
Poland: Szczesny, Piszczek, Pazdan, Cionek, Rybus, Krychowiak, Zielinski, Blaszczykowski, Milik, Grosicki, Lewandowski.
Subs: Fabianski, Jedrzejczyk, Bednarek, Goralski, Linetty, Teodorczyk, Glik, Peszko, Bereszynski, Kurzawa, Kownacki, Bialkowski.
Senegal: Khadim N’Diaye, Wague, Sane, Koulibaly, Sabaly, Sarr, Alfred N’Diaye, Gueye, Niang, Mane, Diouf.
Subs: Diallo, Mbengue, Mbodji, Sow, Kouyate, N’Doye, Konate, Sakho, Ndiaye, Balde, Gassama, Gomis.
Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain)
Poland v Senegal starting line-ups
Poland: Szczesny, Pazdan, Cionek, Milik, Krychowiak, Grosicki, Rybus, Blaszczykowski, Zielinski, Piszczek, Lewandowski
Senegal: N’Diaye, Wague, Sane, Koulibaly, Sabaly, Gueye, N’Diaye, Sarr, Mane, Niang, Diouf
Weather report: The heavens have just opened in Moscow, writes minute-by-minute reporter from London bunker. Some journalists in Russia have been suggesting the pitches aren’t being watered enough and are too dry - this should help today.
Early team news ...
Poland will almost certainly be without veteran central defender Kamil Glik, who injured his shoulder while attempting a bicycle-kick in a training session a couple of weeks ago. If he is absent, it may force Poland to revert to a back three, despite experimenting with a four-man defence in the build-up to this tournament.
For Senegal, Anderlecht central defender Kara Mbodj is an injury concern, having played just two games since December, when he suffered a knee injury. His match fitness is obviously a concern.
Some pre-match listening
We’re recording our Guardian World Cup Football Daily podcast after the last match of each day’s action during this tournament. Last night, Max Rushden and I were joined by the Racing Post’s Mark Langdon to discuss England’s win over Tunisia and the rest of yesterday’s action.
If you’re not already a subscriber, you can download it for free in all the usual places. We’re currently second only in the charts to Love Island: The Morning After - a bitter pill to swallow.
Group H: Poland v Senegal
Poland and Senegal are the last two of the 24 teams at World Cup 2018 to make their bows, in one of the more open, interesting and intriguing groups of this summer’s finals. Moscow’s Spartak Stadium is the venue, where Senegal are hoping to avoid joining their four fellow African sides – Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia – in losing their opening match. In their first World Cup finals since 2006, Poland are warm favourites to beat them. Kick-off is at 4pm (BST), but stay tuned for team news and build-up in the meantime.
