Yes. People are getting over-excited over a poll that suggests Labour would still lose. There are no points for coming second in a football match, regardless of whether it's 1-0 or 4-0...
Well, May called the election to secure a large conservative majority during the Brexit negotiations, didn't she?
If she gets the same weak majority, it could have consequences on her abilities to govern in one or two years, if the negotiations are chaotic or very hard. To use your analogy, losing 1-0 instead of 4-0 could mean a second leg earlier with a Labour in a stronger position.