Poland vs Saudi Arabia PLAYER RATINGS: Robert Lewandowski was worthy of his big World Cup moment but Wojciech Szczesny was the real hero as Poles claimed a crucial win
- Poland picked up a crucial 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia to go top of Group C
- They led when Piotr Zielinski smashed home the opener late in the first-half
- Wojciech Szczesny then made a vital penalty save to deny Salem Al-Dawsari
- Robert Lewandowski made sure by scoring his first World Cup goal late on
- Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results
Poland defeated Saudi Arabia 2-0 on Saturday to assume leadership of World Cup Group C with Piotr Zielinski and Robert Lewandowski on target.
But they rode their luck at times, not least when keeper Wojciech Szczesny had to save a penalty from Salem Al-Dawsari late in the first-half.
Sportsmail assesses each of the players involved in our player ratings.
![Robert Lewandowski was overjoyed to finally score his first goal at a World Cup finals](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/26/15/64962407-11469919-image-a-77_1669476024954.jpg)
Robert Lewandowski was overjoyed to finally score his first goal at a World Cup finals
POLAND
Wojciech Szczesny - Essential to Poland's victory with a number of crucial saves in the considerable periods when Saudi Arabia were on top, not least the penalty stop from Salem Al-Dawsari that prevented a swing in momentum. 8/10
![Szczesny is mobbed by his Poland team-mates after keeping them ahead with his penalty save](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/26/15/64961467-11469919-image-a-83_1669476478270.jpg)
Szczesny is mobbed by his Poland team-mates after keeping them ahead with his penalty save
Matty Cash - Booked early on and never looked at all comfortable with Saudi Arabia's energetic wide players. He did, however, provide a bit of width on the right side with Zielinski drifting inside. 6
Jakub Kiwior - Was troubled by Saudi Arabia's tricky forwards and didn't always cope well when put under pressure but did just about enough to preserve their clean sheet. 6
Kamil Glik - Solid enough to withstand the pressure of the green-shirted attacks and unafraid to be physical when required to earn his team a battling win. 6.5
Bartosz Bereszynski - Not overly involved down the left side when Poland were pushing forward but had enough on his plate cutting off his portion of the field as an attacking avenue. 6
Piotr Zieliński - Took his goal really nicely, lashing the ball high into the net to offer a measure of relief after Poland's unconvincing first period. Quieter after the break and was taken off just after the hour mark. 7
![Piotr Zielinski (left) had opened the scoring for Poland shortly before the interval](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/26/15/64961337-11469919-image-a-80_1669476337234.jpg)
Piotr Zielinski (left) had opened the scoring for Poland shortly before the interval
Grzegorz Krychowiak - Struggled to get a grip at times when the Saudis swarmed through midfield during their spells of ascendancy. 6
Krystian Bielik - Clumsy inside the box to concede the penalty late in the first-half and is experienced enough to know Al-Shehri was looking for the contract. 5
Przemyslaw Frankowski - Didn't carry a great deal of threat as he faded in and out of the contest. 5
Arkadiusz Milik - Struck the crossbar with a header with the game delicately poised at 1-0, having picked up a booking early on. 6
Robert Lewandowski - Scoring his first World Cup goal was clearly an emotional moment as his eyes teared up. Had struck the post with a mishit shot before being gifted his long-awaited goal. Almost added a second late on but was denied by the keeper. 7
![Robert Lewandowski scored once but may have added further goals either side](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/26/16/64962367-11472343-image-a-10_1669479388064.jpg)
Robert Lewandowski scored once but may have added further goals either side
SUBSTITUTES
Jakub Kamiński (for Zieliński 63mins) - 6
Krzysztof Piątek (for Milik 71 mins) - 5
SAUDI ARABIA
Mohammed Al-Owais - Was heroic against Argentina but couldn't keep Poland at bay, though he did make a few decent stops. Could hardly be blamed for either goal and was very rapid off his line to clear the danger. 6.5
Saud Abdulhamid - Caused something of a threat pushing forward on both flanks, having swapped over at half-time. Was certainly willing to support the attackers at every opportunity. 6
Abdulelah Al-Amri - Played some excellent long diagonal balls to try and get his team moving forwards but ultimately they could't withstand the Polish pressure. 6.5
Ali Al-Boleahi - Not in the right place to react to Lewandowski getting to the ball to tee up the opening goal 6
Mohammed Al-Breik - Should have put away the rebound after Szczesny saved the penalty from Al-Dawsari but allowed the keeper to get a crucial touch. Involved a good deal. 6
Mohammed Kanno - The Saudis best player, he bristled with intent and energy, charging all over the midfield and taking a few whacks for his troubles. 7
![Mohamed Kanno was the best player for Saudi Arabia as he bustled about in midfield](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/26/16/64963915-11472343-image-a-11_1669480234051.jpg)
Mohamed Kanno was the best player for Saudi Arabia as he bustled about in midfield
Abdulelah Al-Malki - Just a momentary lapse when he turned and gave the ball straight to Lewandowski for the decisive goal overshadowed his whole performance. 5
Sami Al-Najei - Came into the side and didn't put a foot wrong but was taken off at the interval nonetheless. 6
Firas Al-Buraikan - Put one chance over under pressure but the angle was quite tight. Looked one of the more likely players to piece the Polish back line. 6.5
Saleh Al-Shehri - A constant thorn in the side of Poland, winning the penalty off Bielik that so nearly changed the course of the match. 7
Salem Al-Dawsari - After his heroics the other day, the penalty miss will certainly sting. It was far from the best spot-kick and lacked power. Otherwise was a real threat. 6
![Salem Al-Dawsari reacts with dismay after missing a chance during a disappointing display](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/26/16/64963925-11472343-image-a-12_1669480277136.jpg)
Salem Al-Dawsari reacts with dismay after missing a chance during a disappointing display
SUBSTITTUES
Nawaf Al-Abid (for Al-Najei 46mins) - 6 - Did bring a little bit more energy to the midfield during the second-half as Saudi Arabia sought to come from behind.
Sultan Al-Ghannam (for Al-Breik 65mins) - 5
Abdulrahman Al-Obed (for Al-Malik 85mins)
Nasser Al-Dawsari (for Al-Shehri 86mins)
Hattan Bahebri (for Al-Abid 90+5mins)
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