The first Polish championship in the club's history, the first participation in the group/league phase of European cups and the first promotion to the spring part of the competition. However, approaching Thursday match at home with the leader league Slovenian Olimpija Ljubljana, Jagiellonia Białystok could have achieved another historic result. It would, of course, be a direct promotion to the 1/8 finals Conference Leagues. The condition was not complicated – football players Adrian Siemieniec had to win in their last successful year, 2024.
Suddenly “Slovenians” started shouting in Polish. But it wasn't anything nice
Thursday's match was watched from the stands of the Chorten Arena by well over 14,000 fans, including about 200 Olimpija fans. At first glance, the Slovenians started their cheering with words… in Polish. Unfortunately, these were not thanks for the hospitality in Białystok, but insults to the host team.
However, it quickly turned out that in the guests' sector there were fans of two Olimpias – the one from Ljubljana and the one from Warsaw, which was highlighted by a large flag on the stick “Ljubljana – Warsaw”. And since Warsaw generally doesn't like Jagiellonia…
Some people were dozing off, and then suddenly there was a thud! The fans said goodbye to the departing president with a bang
During the break, some fans and journalists may have fallen asleep. But then, those in the VIP and press sectors were woken up by a loud bang. Then another and another. However, it quickly turned out that there was no sudden demolition of the Chorten Arena stand and nothing was collapsing. It was the Jagiellonia fans who set off fireworks for the outgoing president of the club – Wojciech Pertkiewicz, along with sharp sounds from the loudspeakers, loved by the helmsman of the Polish champion, who watched the show from the nest position on Ultra.
Pertkiewicz, who ends his Białystok “mission” at the end of this year for family reasons and returns to Tricity, spent three years helping Jaga out of huge financial difficulties, and then, together with sports director Łukasz Masłowski and coach Adrian Siemieniec, he took them to the very top of Polish football, winning Polish championship. In addition, promotion to the league phase of the Conference League and the only thing missing was a victory over Olimpija and direct qualification to the 1/8 finals.
And the fireworks were fired from outside the stadium because Jagiellonia is already facing a significant fine from UEFA for firing pyrotechnics in the match against Molde, and a repeat offense would mean closing one of the stands at the stadium at Słoneczna Street.
It was not Jagiellonia as we know it. I failed the exam
Without Taras Romanczuk or Joao Moutinho, but above all without positive energy. This was Jagiellonia Białystok on Thursday evening at Słoneczna. The efforts of the Yellow and Reds cannot be denied, but there was very little football quality.
All those responsible for creating the offensive game failed – Afimico Pululu, Jesus Imaz, Kristoffer Hansen, Nene… – We were out of steam – Adrian Siemieniec admitted after the match. In fact, apart from the situation after a set piece in the fifth minute, the Yellow and Reds did not threaten Matevz Vidovsek's goal.
If this was supposed to be an exam to show whether Jagiellonia belongs to the best eight of the Conference League, it was failed. But who, before the start of the competition, had planned such a scenario for the Polish champion? And Olimpija doesn't have much to be happy about either, because it also qualified for the TOP8 by winning in Białystok. A draw condemned both teams to the playoffs.
Jaga was still in the TOP8 in the 85th minute. The fans failed to console the players
Jagiellonia knew that they had to win this match to advance directly to the 1/8 finals. But even with this unfortunate goalless draw, in the 85th minute they were still in eighth place in the virtual Conference League table. Everything was changed by Krzysztof Piątek's goal for Cercle Brugge against Paris Brunner, recognized only after VAR's intervention. The young German scored 1-1, and Cercle Brugge, which had previously eliminated Wisła Kraków, jumped into the top eight at the expense of Jagiellonia.
This could have been changed by Legia Warszawa, which was losing to Djurgardens IF 1-2 at that moment. A draw of the “Military” would have allowed the Białystok team into the eighth at the expense of the Swedes, but we know well that that match ended with a score of 3:1 for the hosts.
Ultimately, Jagiellonia finishes in ninth position in the Conference League table, not taking advantage of the great situation of having full points at the halfway point after victories against Molde and Copenhagen. The Yellow and Reds can still play against Molde in the play-offs, just like against Serbian TSC Backa Topola. The drawing will take place on Friday at 1:00 p.m.
Happiness was so close and Adrian Siemieńc's team felt it, which is why it was so difficult for the fans to console them after the final whistle. Even though the fans made it clear that they were their own people anyway football players proud for the entire year 2024, few of them managed to improve their mood.
But when they sit quietly in the Christmas atmosphere, they will certainly realize that they have achieved a lot in the last 12 months.