Nigeria legend Austin Okocha defends Robert Lewandowski after penalty miss  

By Olu Dare

Nigeria football great Austin Okocha has defended Robert Lewandowski’s penalty miss as Poland played out a 0-0 draw with Mexico on Tuesday.

The Barcelona went down under a challenge by Mexico’s Hector Moreno in the box, which was initially waved away by referee Chris Beath before it was eventually given after VAR recommended Beath take a second look on the pitch-side monitor.

The striker Poland captain struck his penalty low to Ochoa’s left, but the 37-year-old got down smartly before Grzegorz Krychowiak failed to convert the follow-up, keeping the scores level.

Even at that, the former Super Eagles skipper defended the miss by the ex-Bayern Munich goal machine.

“Unfortunately, Lewandowski showed us that he is a human being after all with that miss,” Okocha said on Super Sport TV.

“You would have thought he is the right person to take it. He’s the right person to give them that advantage that they needed.

“It was a penalty. Moreno, didn’t make contact with the ball.”

Lewandowski’s missed spot kick means his wait for a World Cup goal continues, after he also failed to convert in Poland’s three group matches at Russia 2018.

Ochoa’s save was met with jubilant cheers by the multitude of Mexico fans in Doha’s Stadium 974, in what is the goalkeeper’s third World Cup.

After Mexico and Poland play out their Group C opener, they face Argentina and Saudi Arabia on matchday 2, respectively.