Arak and Lipski gave Lechia Gdansk the second win in the season against new in Ekstraklasa Miedz Legnica. Both Kuciak and the bar played an important role in saving the score in the last minutes. In Gdynia, Arka got a draw two minutes from time failing to win in the league once more.
Lechia Gdansk – Miedz Legnica
Lechia Gdansk secured their second victory in Ekstraklasa on Friday after winning at home with Miedz Legnica. The home team was struggling at the end to keep three points in this fourth round of the Polish championship.
White and Greens almost got an advantage in the 37th minute. Flavio Paixao was nearly able to deflect a very good cross from Haraslin with success. Two minutes later, Arak didn’t fail and put Lechia in the lead with a header after a cross by Stolarski.
Second half
In the second half, Miedz Legnica scared Lechia’s defense in the 50th minute with a nice action. The answer from Lechia was though almost immediate. Arak put the keeper to the test with a shot that Kanibolotski had trouble to save.
Lechia Gdansk was again near the 2:0 when isolated Flavio Paixao allowed an easy save by Kanibolotski in the 54th minute. Two minutes later, however, a fast counter-attack by Haraslin was successfully completed with a great shot by Lipski.
Only after the 2:0, Miedz Legnica became more dangerous and could have done much better when Marquitos stole the ball to Borysiuk and shot for Kuciak to save in the 64th minute. Six minutes later, Lobodzinski shot after a slalom in the middle of Lechia’s defense but the ball hit the bar.
In the last ten minutes, Kuciak was there to save Lechia. First, denying another an effort by Lodobzinski in the 85th minute. Later, already in added time, performing two great saves against long-distance free kicks by Forsell. Thanks to this, the result remained 2:0 until the final whistle.
Arka Gdynia – Gornik Zabrze
On Saturday, Arka Gdynia, still without a win in Ekstraklasa, got its third draw of the season against Gornik Zabrze. The away team recently eliminated in Europa League qualifiers were finishing the game playing in 10 men only.
Gornik had the first real chance of the match when Jimenez shot for a good Steinbors’ save in the 15th minute after a great pass by Zurkowski. Jimenez threatened once again in the 41st minute. Finally, already in the added time of the first half, Dani Suarez scored for Gornik after a corner kick.
Second half
In the second half, Arka Gdynia could have got a penalty kick in the 69th minute. VAR, however, judged that Gryszkiewicz fouled a substitute Mlynski still outside the box. Gryszkiewicz, already with one yellow card, collected the second one and was expelled from the match.
From this free kick, Janota almost got an equalizer for Arka Gdynia, but the ball flew just centimeters over the bar. From then on, the home team pushed for a better result and almost got it in the 80th minute. Siemaszko allowed Loska to shine with a great save.
Two minutes from time, Arka’s efforts were compensated with a superb long-distance shot by Janota out of Loska’s reach. Already in added time, Arka Gdynia could have reached the victory, but Marciniak wasn’t able to direct the ball to the goal.
The current situation in the league
With these results, Lechia, which visits Gornik next week, climbed to the fourth place in Ekstraklasa with eight points. They are however five points from the leading Lech Poznan which has all 12 points in four games. Arka Gdynia is now 11th with three points before visiting Wisla Plock in the next round.
