Catch all the action from the Group H match between Poland and Senegal through News18Sports' live blog. Read More Live Updates: Senegal hold on to 2-1 lead and beat Poland to open their campaign with a win in 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.Catch all the action from the Group H match between Poland and Senegal through News18Sports' live blog. Jun 19, 2018 22:25 (IST) Full time: Poland - 1 Senegal 2 Jun 19, 2018 22:22 (IST) Four minutes added on and Poland have a corner and they have pushed everyone but the keeper into the box. Unfortunately for them the keeper comes and collects. Jun 19, 2018 22:17 (IST) GOAL: Grzegorz Krychowiak pulls away at the back post and heads back and across goal to pull one back as Ndiaye can't do anything but watch on. Jun 19, 2018 22:16 (IST) Ismaila makes a strong run down the right and gets into the box looking to cross it in but Rybus came with a great tackle to stop that. Both players engaged in an exchange of words but sense prevailed before things went out of hand. Jun 19, 2018 22:14 (IST) Meanwhile, in the game that is coming up after Poland and Senegal, hosts Russia will be taking on Egypt where Mohamed Salah will finally make his World Cup debut after it has been confirmed that he will start. Jun 19, 2018 22:11 (IST) 10 minutes to go in the game and Poland still looking to find a way back. Not much has gone their way today and that's rare with a striker like Lewandowski in the side. Jun 19, 2018 22:08 (IST) Senegal now with at least five in the defensive line when Poland have the ball with two on Lewandowski. Zielinski had a chance though to get a good ball in after he ran in behind the defense. But good recovery from the left back has seen that move get snubbed out. Jun 19, 2018 22:03 (IST) With Cheickh Ndoye coming on for Senegal, they are about to go into a defensive formation and shut shop to keep Poland out. Expect more cover to come on as Niang is likely to go off too due to an injured ankle. Jun 19, 2018 22:01 (IST) Another chance to work the Senegal keeper is wasted as Poland's Milik hits it on the wrong side of the post after some good play by Piszczek to create that opening. Jun 19, 2018 22:01 (IST) Another chance to work the Senegal keeper is wasted as Poland's Milik hits it on the wrong side of the post after some good play by Piszczek to create that opening. Jun 19, 2018 21:59 (IST) Niang and Senegal would count themselves slightly lucky with the second goal as he was just called back into the field of play when the back pass was made giving him a chance to make the run accordingly in good time. Poland's complaints on that have fallen on deaf ears. Jun 19, 2018 21:58 (IST) Poland have been woeful in attack today as they have not just found their passes but shooting has been below par too, while set-piece deliveries have been frustrating for the defenders who come up for the headers. Jun 19, 2018 21:54 (IST) Poland who have looked flat for most of the match apart from in bursts have their task cut out now as they look to find something in the game with half an hour to go. Jun 19, 2018 21:52 (IST) GOAL: Niang has put Senegal in the drivers seat after they double their lead. The Grzegorz Krychowiak pass back was awrfully timed as Niang pounces on it and taps it into an empty net. Senegal lead 2-0. Jun 19, 2018 21:47 (IST) Chance: Piszczek ghosting in from the back on the right hand side with a volley. Shot off target even though he was unmarked. Poland must make the Senegal keeper and defense work hard if they want to get anything out of this game. Jun 19, 2018 21:43 (IST) At the other end it is a good run by Sabaly down the left where he gets to the byline and pulls the ball back to Sadio Mane. But the snapshot is blocked off. Ten minutes into the first half and even though there is better tempo in the game, there isn't much in terms of constructing a move. Both sides using a direct approach. Jun 19, 2018 21:41 (IST) Fantastic attempt by the Polish captain Lewandowski but it's punched away by Ndiaye. That's Poland's first attempt on goal in the match. Jun 19, 2018 21:40 (IST) Poland starting the better of the two teams in the second half as he steals the ball in midfield and bursts through the centre goalwards. Sane with a cynical tackle brings him down and takes the yellow card for his team. Free-kick for Poland in a dangerous position. Jun 19, 2018 21:38 (IST) Ouch! Heavy collission between Bednarek and Sabaly there early on. Both players are fine to continue now thankfully. Jun 19, 2018 21:36 (IST) Second half kicks off now in Moscow. Jun 19, 2018 21:29 (IST) Overall this first half was chaotic and messy. Both teams seemed to lack the quality needed to create a goal, but Senegal proved that belief wrong (albeit with a crazy double deflected own goal off of Thiago Cionek). Adam Nawalka and the Eagles must make several changes at half if they have any hope of salvaging a point from this match. A halftime lead will mean that the Lions of Teranga can sit back and use their impressive speed to hit the Polish on the break. Jun 19, 2018 21:20 (IST) Half-time: Senegal lead Poland 1-0 Jun 19, 2018 21:16 (IST) That own goal has ensured that there won't be any goalless draws in the first round of the group stages. Jun 19, 2018 21:15 (IST) Senegal looking to up the ante in the final few minutes of the half and the corner is swung in dangerously by Niang, but Poland survive even though the marking was off on that occasion. Jun 19, 2018 21:13 (IST) That move started off near the centre line when Niang won the ball of Pizczek before Sadio Mane teed up Gana for the shot which took a wicked deflection. Jun 19, 2018 21:11 (IST) GOAL: Senegal have taken the lead after Gana's shot comes off the Polish defender Cionek and wrong foots Szczesny! Jun 19, 2018 21:06 (IST) The game features two of Europe's top marksmen at the domestic level in Robert Lewandowski and Sadio Mane. Both have failed to impress so far today. Senegal with pace though are doing well to trouble the Polish defenders when they can but the final pass is lacking. Couple of good chances to deliver a dangerous ball in from the right have gone a begging. The game badly needs a goal. Jun 19, 2018 21:04 (IST) Sadio Mane on the left makes a powerful run from the defense as he looks for support in attack, but before he can make anything happen the ball is taken off him and Poland look to make use of possession. Jun 19, 2018 20:58 (IST) If there was one word that could be used to describe the early goings of this match it would be 'sloppy'. The passes in the final third have been abysmal, while those taking place in the midfield have been completely inaccurate. The action is from end to end, but this game lacks any flow. Jun 19, 2018 20:56 (IST) Finally Lewandowski gets a chance to have a shot on goal. Turns sharply and volleys on his left foot from outside the box, but it goes out harmlessly. Both sides looking for a source of inspiration in what has otherwise been a quiet 25 minutes to start with. Load More (image: FIFA) Senegal will draw on the spirit of the late Bruno Metsu, the maverick French coach who led them to the 2002 quarter-finals, when they face Poland on Tuesday in their first World Cup match in 16 years.<doc-sep>Poland vs Senegal FIFA Football World Cup Highlights: Poland went down 2-1 to Senegal in Moscow. (Source: AP) Poland vs Senegal FIFA Football World Cup Highlights: Poland went down 2-1 to Senegal in Moscow. (Source: AP) Poland vs Senegal FIFA World Cup Highlights: Taking full advantage of multiple errors by Poland, Senegal became the first African country to emerge victorious in first round of FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia after beating their opponenets 2-1 on Tuesday at Spartak Stadium. Senegal took the lead after a clumsy own-goal by Thiago Cionek in the first half. M’Baye Niang doubled the lead for the African side in the second half as Poland keeper Wojciech Szczesny decided to race out to save the long pass. But Niang edged past him to slot home in an empty net. Poland scored the only goal in the dying minutes of the game as Grzegorz Krychowiak sent a header past the Senegal keeper. The result leaves Senegal level with Japan in Group H.<doc-sep>| | FT - Senegal stun Poland 2-1 91' - 90' - 90' - 86' - GOAL! Poland pull one back 85' - 83' - Substitution! 82' - 79' - 75' - Substitution! 73' - Substitution! 72' - Yellow Card! 70' - 62' - Substitution! 60' - GOAL! Senegal doubled the lead 56' - 50' - SAVE! 49' - Yellow Card! 46' - Substitution! HT - It's Poland 0-1 Senegal at the half-time break in Moscow 45' - 42' - 38' - GOAL! Senegal in the lead 37' - 34' - OFFSIDE! 31' - 28' - 23' - 20' - 18' - 16' - 14' - 13' - 12' - Yellow Card! 11' - 7' - 6' - 4' - KICK-OFF TIME TEAM NEWS Starting line-ups POLAND (4-5-1): SENEGAL (4-4-2): World No. 27 Senegal started their World Cup campaign in style as they upset World No. 8 Poland 2-1 in their opening Group H match. An own goal by Thiago Cionek gave Senegal 1-0 lead at the half-time break, and at the hour mark M'Baye Niang doubled the lead. Grzegorz Krychowiak pulled one back in the 86th minute, but Poland failed to find the second goal to lose the contest in Moscow.Corner for Poland, but the delivery was quite near the goalkeeper. Khadim N'Diaye collected it comfortablyFour minutes added as stoppage timeCorner for Senegal. It ended with a free-kick for PolandGrzegorz Krychowiak headed in from close range to make it 1-2 for Poland. Good delivery from free-kickShout for Penalty by Senegal No. 18. Ref denied itPoland's Lukasz Piszczek is replaced by Bartosz BereszynskiMaciej Rybus failed to make a decent contact from the left of Senegal goal. Missed chanceHeader from Poland's Dawid Kownacki was comfortably collected by Senegal goalkeeper Khadim N'DiayeGoal-scorer M'Baye Niang is replaced by Moussa Konate for SenegalArkadiusz Milik is replaced by Dawid Kownacki for PolandSenegal's Idrissa Gueye booked for a challenge on Robert LewandowskiPoland's Arkadiusz Milik shot it just wide from close range. A good low cross-in from Lukasz Piszczek from the right flankMame Biram Diouf is replaced Cheikh N'Doye for SenegalM'Baye Niang scored for Senegal to double the lead over Poland. Krychowiak's back pass to his own goalkeeper from the centre of the pitch, was intercepted by Niang, who lofted it over Szczesny much to the dismay of Polish fans.Lukasz Piszczek shot it wide from close range. In search of the equaliser, Poland are making more inroads towards Senegal final third early in the second halfFree-kick for Poland. Robert Lewandowski with the kick, but a brilliant diving save by Senegal goalkeeper Khadim N'Diaye denied Poland the equaliserSalif Sane booked for tripping Robert Lewandowski just outside the Senegal boxPoland's Jakub Blaszczykowski is replaced by Jan BednarekSecond half begins...Two minutes added as stoppage timeCorner for Senegal. Free header for Salif Sane, but he head the ball down the ground and it bounced over the Poland crossbarThiago Cionek's own goal put Senegal in the lead. The ball deflected into the Poland net. Idrissa Gueye with the shot, and the ball deflected off Cionek's right foot and caught goalkeeper Szczesny wrong-footed. Hard Luck!Jakub Blaszczykowski is making his 100th appearance for Poland tonightMame Biram Diouf was caught offside in front of the Poland goal-mouth. Couple of good cross-ins from the right flank for Senegal in the last one minutePoland have more than 60% of possessions in the first 30 minutes of play, but yet to make a clear shot on targetCouple of miss passes from both the sides in the middle. It's still goalless in MoscowRobert Lewandowski attempted a shot from top of the Senegal box, but his left-footer went wide. It didn't come from the middle of the bootA diving header from Arkadiusz Milik went over the Senegal crossbar. A half chance at bestM'Baye Niang got a perfect through pass inside Poland box, but his left-footer was a mishit and went well wide of Poland goalIsmaila Sarr down inside Poland box. He shouted for a foul, but ref think otherwiseCorner for Poland. A short corner taken, but failed to make an impactSalif Sane shot the resultant free-kick wide of Poland goalFirst booking of the match. Poland's Grzegorz Krychowiak is booked for a foul on M'Baye NiangAnother attack from Senegal. This time too from the left flank.M'Baye Niang's cross in front of the Poland goal-mouth from the left flank was easily intercepted by goalkeeper Wojciech SzczesnyCorner for Senegal, first of the match. The delivery was poor and was cleared comfortablySlow start so far. Both teams yet to make an incursion into the opponent's boxHere we go...Time for National AnthemsKey Poland defender Kamil Glik was left on the bench for their opening World Cup Group H match against Senegal while Wojciech Szczesny was picked in goal ahead of Lukasz Fabianski. Poland have rotated between Szczesny and Fabianksi during qualifying and it was the Juventus player who got the nod for the match at the Spartak stadium.Senegal, aiming to become the first African side to pick up a point at the tournament, left their usual captain Cheikhou Kouyate on the bench, handing the armband instead to forward Sadio Mane.Wojciech Szczesny; Lukasz Piszczek, Maciej Rybus, Thiago Cionek, Michal Pazdan; Jakub Blaszczykowski, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Arkadiusz Milik, Kamil Grosicki, Piotr Zielinski; Robert LewandowskiKhadim N'Diaye; Kalidou Koulibaly, Salif Sane, Youssouf Sabaly, Moussa Wague; Alfred N'Diaye, M'Baye Niang, Ismaila Sarr, Idrissa Gueye; Mame Biram Diouf, Sadio ManeHello and welcome to the live coverage of Group H match between Poland and Senegal. The match starts at 20:30 IST<doc-sep>
SENEGAL became the first African team to win at this year’s World Cup, defeating Poland 2-1 Tuesday on a first-half own-goal and a controversial second-half strike by Mbaye Niang. Senegal, back in the tournament for the first time since 2002, went ahead in the 37th minute when Thiago Cionek’s attempted block of Idrissa Gueye’s shot wrong- footed goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who was picked to start over fellow Arsenal castoff Lukasz Fabianski. Niang, who had returned to the field from treatment, later beat Szczesny to a backpass and had an open net when he doubled the lead in the 60th. Grzegorz Krychowiak, whose backpass led to Senegal’s second goal, headed in a free kick in the 86th minute to end Poland’s streak of five straight scoreless World Cup openers. Both teams’ stars, Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, rarely threatened in quiet World Cup debuts. Mbaye Niang of Senegal celebrates. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images Senegal is tied for the group lead with Japan, which upset Colombia 2-1 earlier. Senegal will play Japan on Sunday, when Poland meets Colombia. Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia had been outscored 6-1 as African teams started 0-4. Poland kept up its track record of dismal World Cup starts. It has four losses and three draws since beating Argentina in 1974. Senegal President Macky Sall was in the stands to watch his nation’s first World Cup match since 2002, when the team reached the quarterfinals before losing to Turkey. Poland returned for the first time since 2006. Poland fans in red and white were about three-quarters of the crowd, and they chanted and clapped throughout. Lewandowski topped the Bundesliga in scoring in three of the last five seasons and while he had 16 of Poland’s 28 goals in qualifying, he managed only one goal at the 2012 European Championship and one at Euro 2016. Senegal's team players celebrate. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE Source: AFP Senegal took the lead when Niang went around Lukasz Piszczek on the flank following a restart and centered to Mane. The Senegal midfielder passed to Gueye, whose right-footed shot from the arc headed toward Szczesny’s far post. Cionek, near the penalty spot, lifted his right leg and deflected the ball past Szczesny’s other side for the fourth own-goal of the tournament. Poland shifted to a three-man backline at the start of the second half, and Senegal’s Salif Sane got a yellow in the 49th for tripping Lewandowski from behind as this forward was running onto a through pass. As Poland pushed for an equalizer, Khadim Ndiaye dived to his left to parry Lewandowski’s free kick, and Piszczek put an open shot into the side net in the 56th. Then came an unusual goal. Niang had been off the field for treatment after Jan Bednarek stomped on a foot. Referee Nawaf Shukralla of Bahrain, a veteran of two World Cup matches in 2014, waved Niang to come back on the field just as Krychowiak lofted a backpass from the center circle to Szczesny. Niang let it bounce twice, knocked the ball past the goalkeeper then sprinted to catch up as the ball bounced three more times, and he tapped it into the open net from about 8 yards. Krychowiak scored from a free kick by Kamil Grosicki from about 35 yards, but Ndiaye made the lead hold up when he grabbed a corner kick in stoppage time. Wojciech Szczesny. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images LISTEN: All the World Cup talking points - The Splash podcast Poland starting XI Wojciech Szczesny (GK), Lukasz Piszczek, Thiago Cionek, Michal Pazdan, Maciej Rybus; Grzegorz Krychowiak, Piotr Zielinski, Jakub Blaszczykowski, Arkadiusz Milik, Kamil Grosicki, Robert Lewandowski (capt). Senegal starting XI Khadim N’Diaye (GK), Moussa Wague, Kalidou Koulibaly, Salif Sane, Youssouf Sabaly, Alfred N’Diaye, Idrissa Gueye, Sadio Mane (capt), Ismaila Sarr, Mame Biram Diouf, M’Baye Niang. FOLLOW LIVE! (If you can’t see the blog, click here)