– For me it's a normal match. You can get three points in each match. I don't approach it in a special way. Maybe I'm asked such questions because I spent 23 years as a coach and player in Legia. Today we are focusing on what needs to be done in Wrocław. The team is growing. With each match you can see better teamwork. We will play for the full prize pool on Sunday. We are interested in what is happening in our team. We look at each other – said Jacek Magiera at the pre-match press conference. The coach tried not to lose optimism, although Śląsk had not won a single league game before Sunday's match. With three points, they were just above the relegation zone, although it should be remembered that unlike most Leagues had one match less played.
At the other end of the spectrum was Legia, which still competes in European cups. The capital city football players they knew that if they won in Wrocław, they could return to the top spot. Many could still remember what happened in the capital of Lower Silesia in October last year. At that time, Śląsk, which was in excellent form, crushed Legia 4:0. Erik Exposito and Piotr Samiec-Talar played a great match. Both were absent from Wrocław on Sunday evening. The former is continuing his career outside Poland, while the latter is nursing an injury. Jehor Macenko, who was suspended for a red card from the match with Korona Kielce, could not be included in the squad either. However, there is no point in hiding it – not only because of these absences – Legia was the favourite.
Legia was leading, but they are coming back from Wrocław with a point. Injuries to Tobiasz and Jędrzejczyk
What's more – they could have taken the lead in the first seconds. Peter Pokorny recorded a fatal loss, and Marc Gual and Blaz Kramer rushed towards the goal. However, the Slovenian's shot was too weak to pose a serious threat to Rafał Leszczyński. It took less than fifteen minutes for Śląsk to have their first dangerous action. Mateusz Żukowski started from the right wing and crossed into the penalty area at full speed. However, Sebastian Musiolik was late there, and Rafał Augustyniak intervened well.
But let's not kid ourselves – the first half did not attract more than 36 thousand viewers. fanswho showed up at Tarczyński Arena. There was a lack of specifics, and the teams played in waves. Nahuel was very close to luck, shooting the ball dangerously into the penalty area. It managed to dribble, and Kacper Tobiasz could only watch as it flew past the post. Before the first half ended, the Spaniard managed to waste another excellent opportunity. Similarly to Kramer, who, just like at the beginning of the match, hit it far too lightly just before the break.
The events of the first half were overshadowed by what happened in added time. Kacper Tobiasz went out to the penalty area to handle a long ball played towards Sebastian Musiolik. Unfortunately, Artur Jędrzejczyk also tried to intervene. The players collided with each other. The goalkeeper initially left the pitch on his own, but things were much worse for the experienced defender. A stretcher appeared on the pitch, and the Legia captain only left the pitch after a few minutes, assisted by club physiotherapists. Neither of them returned to the pitch. Instead, they went to the hospital.
Legia's reserve goalkeeper, Gabriel Kobylak, was really warmed up in the first seconds of the second half. He perfectly defended a shot by Mateusz Żukowski, who headed dangerously after a corner kick. A moment later, the Warsaw team got the upper hand. And although Kramer's shot once again missed the goalpost guarded by Leszczyński, there was no further warning. Bartosz Kapustka took the ball, passed Petr Schwarz and Tommaso Guercio, and his extremely precise shot landed in the net.
The visitors, however, did not follow through, and the hosts were again helped by one of the elements that have been good for WKS since the beginning of this season – a set piece. Petr Schwarz crossed from a free kick, and Tommaso Guercio was the best in front of the goal. The former Inter Milan player found the net for the second time this season. It was already the fourth goal of the Śląsk defender this season. Apart from Guercio, Simeon Petrov (rematch with Riga) and Aleks Petkov (rematch with St. Gallen) were among the scorers.
The goal scored had a motivating effect on Jacek Magiera's players. A moment later, the ball found its way back into Legia's goal, but this time the joy was short-lived. The reason? Sebastian Musiolik was offside. The fans did not see any more goals. In the highlight of the 6th round of the Ekstraklasa, the points were divided, which means that Śląsk Wrocław has four draws out of five matches played in the league. They will try to find their first win in the new season in Szczecin. On September 1, they will play Pogoń. Legia wasted their chance to become the leader. They will end the round not only behind Lech Poznań, but also the well-performing Cracovia. Goncalo Feio's team will try to complete the formalities in the return match of the 4th round of the Europa Conference League qualifiers and defeat Drita next Thursday. Legia's next league rival will be – also on September 1 – Motor Lublin.
Śląsk Wrocław 1:1 Legia Warsaw (0:0)
Goals: Guercio'66 – Cabbage'56
Silesia: Leszczyński (gk) – Żukowski, Paluszek, Petkov (k), Guerio – Pokorny, Schwarz – Ortiz (62'Baluta), Cebula (83'Gerstenstein), Nahuel – Musiolik (83'Eyamba)
coach: Jacek Magiera
Legion: Tobiasz (gk) (46'Kobylak) – Augustyniak, Jedrzejczyk (k) (46'Pankov), Barcia – Wszołek, Goncalves, Vinagre – Kapustka, Morishita (75'Luquinhas) – Gual (67'Alfarela), Kramer
coach: Goncalo Feio
- yellow cards: Pokorny, Paluszek – Kramer, Augustyniak, Kun, Goncalves
- judge: Szymon Marciniak (Plock)
- viewers: 36 208