Lewandowski’s penalty attempt was stopped by Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa during the team’s Tuesday FIFA World Cup match in Group C.
In the World Cup, the Mexican is renowned for making significant saves for his team. In a 2014 World Cup match against Brazil, he made eight saves.
Mexico was chosen for the 2006 and 2010 World Cups as a result of Ochoa’s exploits with Club América. He didn’t play in a single match in either of those competitions.
Then, in 2014, Ochoa was chosen as Mexico’s starting goalkeeper and kept a clean sheet in the team’s inaugural match, a 1-0 triumph over Cameroon.
Mexico played the hosts Brazil in their second match, and Ochoa became well-known because of that match. With one of his incredible six saves, he blocked Neymar’s magnificent header, keeping Brazil scoreless.
Two days prior to Portugal’s FIFA World Cup match against Ghana, Manchester United FC declares that Ronaldo would depart the club.
He denied the Netherlands three shots to help Mexico move to the round of 16, but the Dutch prevailed 2-1 as a result of a late penalty.
After the game, Ochoa signed a three-year deal with La Liga outfit Málaga.
Prior to being transferred on loan to Granada, he only made a few appearances over the course of two seasons, which led to the stagnation of his career.
The year preceding the 2018 World Cup, he frequently featured for Belgian club Standard Liège.
Ochoa proved that his 2014 success was normal, not an outlier. In their opening game, Mexico overcame Germany 1-0 thanks to his nine saves and clean sheet. Mexico was eliminated in the round of 16 but Ochoa still recorded 25 saves during the course of four games.
More saves were only made by Thibaut Courtois (27 in seven games).
After the 2018 season, Ochoa played one more season at Standard Liège before returning to Club América, where he has started for the past four years.
At the age of 37, Ochoa’s chance to show Mexico and the rest of the world his superhuman abilities may be his last.
“I’m fortunate and feel honored to be playing in my sixth World Cup. Ochoa had told the press prior to the game, “For me, it’s something amazing and I want this to be different, to be the finest of all.
“I strive every day to bring my teammates’ minds to rest. The nerves are understandable given that this is a World Cup. I try to be compassionate and maintain emotional equilibrium before, during, and after the game.
“We are aware of who Lewandowski is, his abilities, and the venues in which he has played. He is a player who has the power to alter your strategy. The fact that Ochoa had acknowledged it would be a significant task for him and his colleagues was vital since it allowed him to save the Pole’s penalty in the game.
