After Thursday's promotion to the league phase of the Conference League, Legia Warsaw was waiting for a return to the Ekstraklasa reality and a home clash with Lublin by motor. – I am filled with pride because I realize that without me Motor would not be where it is. I know how much I have put into the club from Lublin – not only in terms of sports, but also in terms of organization, to make it look the way it did – Goncalo Feio said at the press conference before this matchThe 34-year-old worked at Motor for the past three years until March this year, contributing significantly to his promotion to Ekstraklasa. The newcomer's team is currently led by his former assistant Mateusz Stolarski.
Blaz Kramer was missing from Legia's squad for this match. Goncalo Feio confirmed in a pre-match interview that the Slovenian is close to a transfer to a team playing in the Champions League. The media speculates that it is Slovan Bratislava. Kramer was Legia's most effective player at the beginning of the season. He scored five goals in 11 matches. He also recorded four assists.
Quick goal by the guests. Shock in Warsaw
In recent weeks, there have been many complaints about Feio's team's lack of flair and poor play. That day, they faced Motor, who, as a newcomer, are playing decently. In five matches (one is outstanding), they have conceded just three goals and recorded only one defeat. However, at Łazienkowska, the Lublin team did not intend to limit themselves to defense. In the first minutes, they proved that they had come to Warsaw to win and were rewarded for their performance in the 9th minute. Bartosz Wolski crossed from a corner kick, and Sebastian Rudol made a great header, which went off the post and into Kacper Tobiasz's goal.
It was a very interesting spectacle, and the visitors' lead could have quickly turned into a draw. The Legionnaires had a great opportunity for this, because Damian Kos awarded a penalty after a foul by Paweł Stolarski on Luquinhas. However, Tomas Pekhart's fatal shot from eleven meters was confidently stopped by Ivan Brkić.
The hosts only really started to control possession of the ball in the second quarter and moved the game to the opponent's half. However, this did not bring any results in the form of goal-scoring opportunities. The situation almost became even worse, because after one of the next corner kicks the guests hit the post.
The motor was giving away gifts
However, the Legionnaires were helped by their rivals… First, the hero from a dozen or so minutes ago – Ivan Brkić – made a fatal mistake, letting a straight shot by Bartosz Kapustka slip under his belly. The draw did not last long, because Paweł Stolarski gave the hosts a second penalty kick. This time, he made a senseless handball. Referee Damian Kos, after watching the situation on the monitor, VAR dictated the penalty, which was used by Paweł Wszołek. In this way Legion took the lead, although it didn't take much to do so. It held that way until half-time.
The second half began with Sergi Samper entering the pitch – this was the debut of the former FC Barcelona player in Ekstraklasa. However, this did not protect the guests from a bad start after the break. Already in the 48th minute, Legia quickly played the ball through the middle, and Alfarela was brought into a shooting position. The Frenchman put the goalkeeper through and increased the lead. A conscious assist for this goal was provided by stopper Jan Ziółkowski.
This goal really killed the show. The engine fell apart. He was no longer able to carry out tactical tasks as effectively. He basically did not break through to Kacper Tobiasz's goal. Legia, on the other hand, controlled the game wisely. In the 69th minute, they managed to finish off their opponent. Bartosz Kapustka had too much space in front of the penalty area. He took advantage of this, firing a powerful shot with his left foot. This time, Ivan Brkić was helpless, and Legia's central midfielder scored his second goal in this match, and his fourth in this Ekstraklasa season.
It looked like the last few minutes would be quiet, but in added time, goals were scored from both sides. First, Mbaye Ndiaye showed off a great long-range shot. This goal could certainly be the highlight of the match, but a moment later, the score was set at 5:2 for Legia by Jean-Pierre Nsame, who scored into an empty net after a pass from Morishita.
Three points for Goncalo Feio's team meant that they will spend the break in the national team as runner-up – two points behind Lech Poznań. In two weeks, Raków Częstochowa will come to Warsaw.