Robert Lewandowski helped keep Poland alive at the European Championship by scoring a second-half equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Spain on Saturday.
Álvaro Morata ended his scoring drought by putting Spain ahead in the 25th minute but Lewandowski evened things in the 54th with a header for only his third goal with the national team at a major tournament.
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Robert Lewandowski helped keep Poland alive at the European Championship by scoring a second-half equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Spain on Saturday.
The result leaves Sweden at the top of Group E with four points after its win over Slovakia on Friday. Slovakia is second with three points while Spain has two. Poland still has a chance of advancing at Euro 2020 despite being last in the group with one point.
He had a clear chance to break his drought in the first half against Spain when he picked up a rebound inside the area and found himself free from markers in front of the net. But he could not get the ball past Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón, who stopped the ball with his chest. The rebound came after a shot by Karol Swiderski hit the post.
The pass to Morata for the goal came from Moreno, the only change to the squad made by Luis Enrique after the opening draw.
Kozłowski was born on Oct. 16, 2003. England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who was born on June 29, 2003, held the milestone for only six days.
Spain striker Gerard Moreno missed a penalty kick shortly after Lewandowski’s goal and Morata then missed an open net after after the ball rebounded off the post.
Poland's Robert Lewandowski, center, scores his side's first goal past Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simon during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group E match between Spain and Poland at La Cartuja stadium in Seville, Spain, Saturday, June 19, 2021. (AP PhotoThanassis Stavrakis, Pool)
The result leaves Sweden at the top of Group E with four points after its win over Slovakia on Friday. Slovakia is second with three points while Spain has two. Poland still has a chance of advancing at Euro 2020 despite being last in the group with one point.
Spain again paid for its mistakes in front of the net, squandering some good scoring opportunities and being unable to keep Lewandowski in check in one of the few significant chances Poland had in the attack.
Lewandowski, who entered the tournament with only two goals at either a World Cup or a European Championship, was under the spotlight after being held scoreless in the team's 2-1 loss to Slovakia in the opener.
Spain's Alvaro Morata scores his side's opening goal during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group E match between Spain and Poland at Estadio de la Cartuja stadium in Sevilla, Spain, Saturday, June 19, 2021. (Jose Manuel VidalPool via AP)
He had a clear chance to break his drought in the first half against Spain when he picked up a rebound inside the area and found himself free from markers in front of the net. But he could not get the ball past Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón, who stopped the ball with his chest. The rebound came after a shot by Karol Swiderski hit the post.
Morata had been singled out by fans and Spanish media for his misses in the opening 0-0 draw against Sweden, but he found the net from close range after making a nice move around his marker.
The goal was initially called off for offside but eventually was confirmed after a quick video review. Morata ran toward the bench to celebrate with coach Luis Enrique, who kept him in the starting lineup despite the criticism.
Spain's Alvaro Morata, right, and Spain's Jordi Alba celebrate after scoring their side's first goal during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group E match between Spain and Poland at the La Cartuja stadium in Seville, Spain, Saturday, June 19, 2021. (Lluis GenePool via AP)
The pass to Morata for the goal came from Moreno, the only change to the squad made by Luis Enrique after the opening draw.
Fans had been calling for Moreno to play from the start of Euro 2020 following his superb season with Villarreal, but he missed the penalty kick that could have put Spain back in front on Saturday.
Also, 17-year-old Poland midfielder Kacper Kozłowski became the youngest player in the history of the European Championship after going on as a substitute just before Lewandowski scored.
Spain's Alvaro Morata, left, and Spain's manager Luis Enrique celebrate after scoring their side's first goal during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group E match between Spain and Poland at the La Cartuja stadium in Seville, Spain, Saturday, June 19, 2021. (Lluis GenePool via AP)
Kozłowski was born on Oct. 16, 2003. England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who was born on June 29, 2003, held the milestone for only six days.
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Poland's team players celebrate after Robert Lewandowski scored their side's first goal past Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simon, left, during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group E match between Spain and Poland at La Cartuja stadium in Seville, Spain, Saturday, June 19, 2021. (AP PhotoThanassis Stavrakis, Pool)