Senegal Runs Rings around Poland

The African contingent has finally broken through in this year's World Cup.

Not that it makes Egypt, Tunisia, Nigeria, or Morocco feel any better, but Senegal picked up where they left off in the qualifying rounds by posting a 1-2 victory over Poland at the Otkrytie Arena -- aka Spartak Stadium -- in Moscow.

It wasn't the best of matches for the individual headliners -- the Poles' Robert Lewandowski and the Senegalese Sadio Mané -- weren't on their game, but Les Lions de la Téranga had more alternatives.

And they stepped up.

If there was a surprise, it was actually the Biało-czerwoni -- White & Red -- neutralizing Senegal's impressive speed.

However, sooner or later, speed kills.

In the 37th minute, Idrissa Gueye received the ball at the box's edge, where his finish was deflected by Thiago Cionek, which betrayed 'keeper Wojciech Szczesny:

Football had a head start on hockey by a few decades back in the 19th century, but the latter has better scoring rules. They credit those sortsa goals to the shooter.

Really, what chance did Cionek have on that ball? Put the spotlight where it belongs. Great shot.

 

While it seemed Poland was stuck in third gear, attempting to mount an offense, it was due to the comparison of those Terangan Lions being dangerously quick with their counterattacks.

The trend continued in the second half, where it was on the cards Senegal was gonna find twine again.

Who knew it'd be through an absolute horror show from the Polish defenders? As a result, Mbaye Niang found himself face-to-face with the empty net:

 

The Poles finally snapped out of it late in the game. By then, though, it was too little, too late.

Still, now Grzegorz Krychowiak has something to tell his grandkids someday, about his 86th-minute strike in a World Cup match:

 

This result adds to the intrigue of Group H.

If any of the pools can be considered wide open, it's this one.