Senegal took on Poland today in the last match of the first round of the World Cup. The Lions of Teranga took the lead in the 37th minute when Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye's shot deflected off of Poland defender Thiago Cionek to give Aliou Cisse's men the lead:
Idrissa Gana Gueye's effort hands Senegal the lead. Big deflection off Thiago Cionek took the ball past the keeper.#RTEsoccer
Updates: https://t.co/lO7SYu62RC pic.twitter.com/rleGtq3D6n
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 19, 2018
Senegal's second goal came after a monumental cock up in the Polish defence after Grzegorz Krychowiak played a loose ball back to his goalkeeper, M'Baye Niang nipping in ahead of Wojciech Sczcesny to slot the ball in to an empty net.
Niang had been off the field of play after suffering a minor injury and some viewers thought that it was unfair of the referee to let Niang enter the action again just as Krychowiak played the ball back into his own half
60mins M'baye Niang capitalises on some Keystone Cops' football from Poland to hand Senegal a 2-0 lead.#RTEsoccer
Updates: https://t.co/lO7SYu62RC pic.twitter.com/cf3iGXQviT
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 19, 2018
In the RTE studio Eamon Dunphy stated that Niang should not have been allowed to enter the pitch at such a crucial moment for Poland:
The referee made a mistake by letting a player back on the pitch.
He has no understanding of the game he has to wait a bit longer.
He really shouldn't have been let back on the pitch until the ball went dead
A very bad decision.
His sentiments were echoed by many who were watching the game online:
The back pass was made without knowing Niang was even on the field. That’s terrible game management by the ref.
— Thomas (@tgewin) June 19, 2018
Not sure why the 4th official and assistant referee thought that this was the best time to wave Niang back on to the field but, that aside, THIS IS WHY WE DON'T PLAY IT BACK TO THE GOALKEEPER FROM 60 YARDS AWAY. https://t.co/BQlT5Zko7f
— Jimmy Conrad (@JimmyConrad) June 19, 2018
Comedy goal, but the officials didn't help Poland by waving Niang onto the pitch at a fairly critical moment
— Gavin Cooney (@gcooney93) June 19, 2018
Niang is signalled to come on but man that doesn't seem fair- Polish backline/keeper had no idea another player was gonna run straight into play and immediately in on goal. Ref should have waited for the ball to go dead or back to Poland.
2-0 #POLSEN— Caught Offside (@COsoccerpod) June 19, 2018
That's what Poland gets for not playing the ball out when Niang was injured
— Zito (@_Zeets) June 19, 2018
Poland managed a goal back through a Krychowiak header, but it was not enough for the Polish Eagles and the result sets up Group H nicely with Japan's victory against Colombia earlier today:
86mins Grzegorz Krychowiak grabs a late goal - can Poland find an equaliser now?#RTEsoccer
Updates: https://t.co/lO7SYu62RC pic.twitter.com/B83L3lGn0K
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 19, 2018
