The prolific Bayern Munich striker
converted a penalty in the 50th minute to set Poland on its way to a 2-0 win
over Sweden on Tuesday in one of the European playoff finals for a place in
this year’s tournament in Qatar.
Piotr Zieliński added the second goal for
the Poles, who will be competing in soccer’s biggest event for the second
straight time.
It might be the last opportunity for the
33-year-old Lewandowski, who took his tally of goals for his country to a
remarkable 75 in 129 appearances.
As for Sweden’s own veteran striker, Zlatan
Ibrahimovic, he surely won’t be playing at another World Cup.
The 40-year-old Ibrahimovic, not fully fit
after a recent Achilles tendon injury, came on as an 80th-minute substitute but
couldn’t find the goals to get Sweden through the playoffs again. In 2018,
Sweden beat Italy over two legs at this stage to qualify but Poland crucially
had the home advantage in a one-legged shootout this time and made it pay in
Chorzow.
Lewandowski showed composure from the
penalty spot to place a finish into the bottom corner after a stuttering
run-up, moments after Jesper Karlström was adjudged to have bundled into
halftime substitute Grzegorz Krychowiak.
Zieliński’s goal came after a poor touch by
Sweden center back Marcus Danielson, who failed to control a pass back to him.
Zieliński ran through unchecked and curled a shot past goalkeeper Robin Olsen
and just inside the post. 'Ap