Lechia Gdansk came to Gdynia after an embarrassing home defeat by 0-5 with Korona Kielce. However the team has been dominating most of the time last night, especially in the second half. Lechia scored only one goal, in the added time, which was enough to come back from Gdynia with 3 points. Traditionally, Tricity Derby were full of controversies, tensions and emotions. The game got an additional spice from the referee and VAR system.
A very important game
Tricity Derby is a football holiday anticipated by all football fans in Tricity and many in Poland. The rivalry between Arka Gdynia and Lechia Gdansk is an important point on the map of football rivalries in Poland. Last night’s game was extremely important for both teams not only because of the tensions between the teams, but also because of their positions in Lotto Ekstraklasa. Arka fans came to the stadium in great number beating the record of attendance – 14.113 people.
Tensions from the start
Both teams began the match remembering negative results in the last round (Lechia lost 0-5 at home with Korona Kielce and Arka lost at Legia Warszawa by 2-0). Stolarski, who replaced Wawrzyniak in Lechia, created some danger in the early stages of the game. However Arka’s keeper managed to avoid the goal. At the 18th minute, after a cross from the left, the ball went towards one of Lechia’s defenders. Right after that Kun from Arka seemed to have been touched by a Lechia’s player in the box. However the referee said nothing and the game continued.
At the 30th minute, Arka’s keeper Steinbors almost compromised his team after defending a ball to the side after a cross from the right. Fortunately for the Gdynia’s team no Lechia’s player was near Arka’s keeper at the time. The big opportunity for goal came five minutes later. Augustyn missed the goal after a free kick. Steinbors couldn’t have done anything if Augustyn was successful on his attempt.
The second half
In the second half, it was the guest team that remained in control of the events. They also had better chances for a goal. In the 62nd minute, Wolski’s free kick allowed Steinbors to make an excellent save and kept the null in the result. Six minutes later, Marco Paixao scored after a free kick, however VAR check invalidated the Portuguese player’s goal. He was slightly offside position in the moment Wolski shot the ball.
After the canceled goal, it was Lechia Gdansk that continued to try to score. In the 71st minute Krasic forced Steinbors to a good save. It seemed that the null would prevail until the end of the match. Such a result wouldn’t be positive for any of the teams in Tricity. However, at the fifth minute of added time, Krasic found unmarked Flavio Paixao after a corner kick. The Portuguese headed easily into Arka’s goal. This changed the score to 0-1, leaving no time for the home team to react as the game ended seconds later. Tricity Derby ended with a huge joy in Gdansk.
Situation in the league
With this result, Lechia Gdansk remained in the 12th place now with 17 points, two less points than Arka Gdynia, which is now the 10th in Ekstraklasa. Next Saturday, Lechia Gdansk entertains Wisla Plock at home, while Arka Gdynia goes to Wroclaw on Sunday.
