Group H always looked like being a group where anything could happen and first Japan, then Senegal proved just that on Tuesday.

In their first World Cup appearance since 2002, when manager Aliou Cisse was still playing, Senegal earned a well-deserved victory over a disappointing Poland side at the Otkrytie Arena.

The Senegalese showed no signs of being overawed by the occasion and could have taken the lead after 18 minutes when Youssef Sabaly wonderfully picked out M'Baye Niang, but the former AC Milan and Watford forward could only drag a left-footed effort well wide of the far post.

Robert Lewandowski dragged a volley wide after teeing himself up shortly afterwards, but the Poles largely failed to get their star man into the game, forcing him to feed off scraps.

Winger Ismaila Sarr impressed for Senegal, though his probing runs were slightly marred by a couple of very dubious dives which he might not have got away with on another day.

- Breakthrough -

With just eight minutes to go before the break, Senegal took the lead, though they required a huge slice of luck to do so.

Everotn midfielder Idrissa gueye is not renowned for his goals, but it was he who contributed to brekaing the deadlock as his low effort from 20 yards crahsed into the shins of Thiago Cionek before wrong-footing Wojciech Szczesny in the Poland goal and rolling into the back of the net.

It could have been two on the stroke of the interval, but Salif Sane could only head Niang's corner form the right inches wide of the far post after towering above his marker.

A half-time change of system didn't help Poland particularly, though they did create slightly more than they had in the previous 45.

First, Lewandoswki forced Khadim N'diaye into his first real save of the game as he parried away the Bayern Munich man's curling free-kick, before Mame Biram Diouf somehow failed to make contact with Sarr's low ball in from the right just minutes later.

Poland's full-back's were noticeably more advanced after the break and Lukas Piszczek should have done better when he side-footed Kamil Grosicki's inviting ball form the left wide at the far post.

- Defensive howler -

Adam Nawalka's side were made to regret that miss on the hour mark as Senegal double their lead, once again with a major helping hand.

Krychowiak opted to loft a ball back to his goalkeeper from inside the Senegal half, despite being under little pressure.

Clearly taken by surprise Cionek was caught sleeping, causing Wojciech Szczesny to come racing off his line. He wasn't quick enough though, with M'Baye Niang stealing in to race clear and roll into the unguarded net for his first goal for his country with his first shot at goal of the World Cup.

That goal spurred Poland in life somewhat, though they were still well below par for a side ranked eighth in the world.

Arkadiusz Milik prodded wide as he met a Piszczek centre at the near post, before substitute David Kownacki forced a save from N'diaye with a routine header.

With four minutes to go the Poles did find a lifeline, Krychowiak making amends by heading home Grosicki's free-kick from deep at the far post, but it proved to be too little too late as Senegal held on.

The result leaves Group H wide open, with the two favourites to progress in Colombia and Poland having failed to pick up a point so far. Group leaders Senegal and Japan face each other next up on Sunday, with Poland and Colombia set to do battle the same day.

June 19, 2018

T. Cionek

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