In a moment the FIFA World Cup was made for, Robert Lewandowski, arguably the best striker in the world, placed down the ball at the spot to take a penalty kick against legendary Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa.
It was a story with a conclusion already written, given that Robert Lewandowski has converted the last ten penalties for Poland in international play. Still, Ochoa is a different kind of keeper.
Thirty-seven years old and still starting for El Tri, Ochoa looked ready when Lewandowski took his steps back behind–and a little to the left–of the ball.
😎 ¡OCHOA, SIEMPRE OCHOA!
🦸♂️ @yosoy8a entró en modo mundialista y se está convirtiendo en el héroe de #MEX.
🤩 Le paró el penal a Lewandowski.
📺 Telemundo la casa de la Copa Mundial #Qatar2022#MundialTelemundo #ElMundialLoEsTodo #MEXvsPOL pic.twitter.com/fe6CVptn9z
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) November 22, 2022
Trying to ride that razor-thin line of power and accuracy, Lewandowski tried to put the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal; Ochoa had him clocked the whole time, easily pushing the ball away, sending the entire soccer world into a frenzy:
1 – Guillermo Ochoa is the first Mexico 🇲🇽 goalkeeper to save a penalty in a World Cup game since at least 1966 (excluding shootouts), after Mexican goalkeepers conceded their first three penalties in the tournament since then (two by Ochoa and one by Oswaldo Sánchez). Hero. pic.twitter.com/IJEDXoYeFd
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 22, 2022
A moment to remember for Guillermo Ochoa 🙌
He becomes the first Mexico goalkeeper to save a World Cup penalty, outside a shootout, since records began in 1966 🧤#BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup pic.twitter.com/53rcq0k66F
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) November 22, 2022
https://twitter.com/i/events/1578544278199947264
MEMO OCHOA IN THE WORLD CUP 🐐 pic.twitter.com/PXOQvEoumM
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 22, 2022
Ochoa sends Mexican fans into a FRENZY 🤯🇲🇽 #WorldCupWatchParty
(via @thesierrafox)pic.twitter.com/JMgZ68uTFn
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 22, 2022
Mexico has been criticized for being one of the older squads, but Ochoa has hopefully silenced the critics for a while, as only one or two keepers in the world could have made that save. Unfortunately for Lewandowski, one of those keepers was standing between him and glory.
The match ended in a scoreless draw, resulting in a group that has been turned upside down with Saudi Arabia leading the group with three points, Poland and Mexico with a point a piece, and Argentina in last with zero points.
Mexico will play Argentina this Saturday (11 am ET) at Lusail Stadium. Poland will play the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia This Saturday (8 am ET) at Education City Stadium.
