Spain face fight to attain last 16 after draw with Poland
Gerard Moreno missed a penalty and Alvaro Morata squandered the rebound as Spain's scoring woes struck again on Saturday, a 1-1 draw with Poland leaving them facing a fight to attain the last 16 of Euro 2020.
Morata poked in from close range to place Spain in the front but Robert Lewandowski's excellent header, his 60th goal of the growing season, pulled Poland level before Moreno's penalty returned off the post.
The rebound came quickly to Morata but with Wojciech Szczesny committed right down to his right, the goal was open for the striker to score his second.
Instead, the ball flew wide and Spain were designed to accept another disappointing attract Group E which means they might need to beat Slovakia on Wednesday in order to avoid an uncomfortable early exit.
The whistles that accompanied Morata in the opening stalemate with Sweden the other day were saved for your Spanish team at the ultimate whistle.
Poland, meanwhile, formed a huddle on the pitch prior to going to to salute their supporters in the stadium, with the deadly Lewandowski approaching trumps again to keep his team's hopes of progress alive.
Luis Enrique had launched a separate and prepared defence of Morata on Friday as he said the team will be "Morata and 10 others".
But he also replaced Ferran Torres in the starting line-up with Moreno, the Villarreal striker whose 23 goals was second and then Lionel Messi last season in La Liga and who many believed must have been replacing Morata.
Instead, they both played and both were culpable in the game's decisive moment, regardless if Moreno had otherwise been bright, his shot teeing up Morata's opener.
- Dangerous Poland -
Morata almost gave away an early on penalty with an overly-zealous challenge in the box, while Mateusz Klich rippled the very best of the web with an effort from distance immediately after.
Spain were the better side in possession, with Morata attempting a delicate chip when power may have been better, but Poland were dangerous on the break, Lewandowski tearing away after an unhealthy pass by Rodri and then be marshalled out by Jordi Alba.
Morata's best moment came in the 25th minute and it could hardly have already been easier, even if a little shuffle put him in the right position to poke in Moreno's shot from the proper.
The offside flag went up and Spain's players appeared to expect the cancellation but instead the target stood, prompting Alba to fling his arms around Morata, who then dashed to his coach, a show of thanks for the faith put in him.
Poland came again though and twice went close before half-time, Karol Swiderski hitting the post with a curling shot that returned for Lewandowski, but he smashed at Unai Simon, who saved.
Lewandowski made no mistake nine minutes after half-time, peeling to the trunk post, nudging Aymeric Laporte to help make the space and glancing a deft header in to the corner.
Spain must have restored their lead after being gifted a dubious penalty for Klich leaving a late foot on Moreno.
Moreno stepped up but drove his penalty against the post and with the goalkeeper committed, Morata could have scored too but he scuffed the rebound wide.
Moreno was taken off shortly after while Torres, on as a substitute, headed wide when free in the area. Morata cannot sort his feet from one chance, before Szczesny flapped at a corner and saved Rodri's drive.
The openings kept coming for Morata as Torres chested right down to him but Szczesny smothered the final and the collision caused Spain's striker to hobble off with four minutes left.
He was applauded off this time around but the whistles for the team came shortly after.
Source: www.daily-sun.com
