Euro 2020: Poland go down to Slovakia
Wojciech Szczesny became the first goalkeeper to score an own-goal at the tournament, even if he was completely blameless.
St. Petersburg: Slovakia defender Milan Skriniar stopped Robert Lewandowski from scoring at one end, and then showed the world player of the year just how to do it on the other.
Underlining his growing importance for a national team that’s for so long relied on Marek Hamsik, Skriniar played a crucial role at both ends of the field and scored the winning goal in Slovakia’s 2-1 win over Poland on Monday at the European Championship.
Lewandowski endured another tough match in a major soccer tournament, with the uncompromising Skriniar helping to stifle the Bayern Munich striker. Lewandowski didn’t have a clear-cut chance and now has only two goals in 12 matches at a World Cup or European Championship.
The center back then demonstrated he also has an eye for goal by stretching to bring down the ball at a corner and swivelling to toe-poke his shot into the net from 15 meters in the 69th minute.
It was a bad day for Poland’s other best-known player, too.
Wojciech Szczesny became the first goalkeeper to score an own-goal at the tournament, even if he was completely blameless. The Juventus keeper was unfortunate as the ball rebounded off his near post, onto his outstretched arm and back into the net following a shot by Slovakia winger Robert Mak in the 18th minute.
That gave Slovakia the lead before Karol Linetty, justifying his selection ahead of Jakub Moder in central midfield, equalized barely 30 seconds into the second half from Poland’s first well-worked move of the match.
From a reverse pass, Maciej Rybus squared the ball to Linetty, who slightly miskicked his shot but saw the ball bounce into the corner past Martin Dubravka.
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