24 years ago Wis³a Krakow played one of the most dramatic battles in European cups. On September 28, 2000, the “White Star” in the return match match The first round of the UEFA Cup was to bid farewell to Europe with dignity after losing the first match away to Real Zaragoza 1:4. After the first half, it was 1:0 for the Spanish team, and despite this, the “White Star” miraculously evened the score and advanced after penalties. And one of the architects of this renovation was none other than the current Wisła coach, Kazimierz Moskal, who scored a brilliant goal for 3:1. It was also Moskal who participated in the last miracle in European cups, which took place at Reymonta. Of course, it was about advancing to the knockout phase. Europa League in 2011.
Although the current Wisła cannot be compared to the one from back then, this match was supposed to be an inspiration for the Krakow team before the rematch with Spartak Trnava. Losses? Smaller this time, because Wisła lost on Slovakia 1:3. 24 years ago the crowd wasn't great either, because the fans didn't really believe in the final success. Now, although 15 thousand doesn't sound bad, Wisła fans could afford more.
Wisła started the match better and in the 11th minute the fans jumped into the air euphoriabut unfortunately it turned out to be too early, because Kiss, who scored, was offside. Just four minutes later, Zwoliński was close to being lucky, but one of the defenders beat him to it, kicking it out for a corner. After which, by the way, Wisła again created a threat, but Jaroch's shot was blocked.
The next few minutes were basically Wisła's domination, which unfortunately didn't lead to much. There were no good situations, despite the fact that Spartak looked as if they were completely uninterested in anything other than maintaining the result from the first match.
In the end, however, Wisła's efforts paid off. The visitors made a fatal mistake in their own half. The ball was intercepted by Tamas Kiss, who ran into the penalty area and was fouled there. In the 43rd minute, Angel Rodado converted the penalty kick into a goal. In the second minute of added time, Spartak finally had a great opportunity after a free kick, but Kamil Broda made a great save. Nothing more happened in the first half and the “White Star” fully deservedly led 1-0.
Gigantic emotions in the Wisła Kraków match! There was extra time and penalties
The second half saw no change in the game, but this time the Wisła players didn't have to wait long for a goal! In the 60th minute, a great long pass from Marek Carbo was used by Piotr Starzyński, who was in good form that day. After an hour of play, the Wisła players made up for all the losses from Trnava. And Wisła smelled blood and immediately went for goal number three. Rodado had two great opportunities, but in both cases the Spartak goalkeeper was on top. During the second intervention, he deflected the ball with his face and required medical attention.
Wisła had another chance in the 75th minute, but Zwoliński did not behave well in the penalty area and in the end it only ended with a corner kick. Only a minute later Starzyński wasted another opportunity, shooting inaccurately from the penalty area. In the 84th minute, Mikulec, who had been brought on from the bench, had a strong shot, but the visiting goalkeeper had great difficulty in blocking it.
It was close, and in the 93rd minute all these situations took revenge, because after a bizarre mistake in the middle of the field Azango had a chance, but fortunately the ball after his shot from the penalty area missed the post of Wisła's goal. This was the last situation in this match. The result 2:0 for Wisła after 90 minutes meant extra time. And from Spartak's perspective it can be considered a miracle.
The extra time started with a delay, because one of the photojournalists required medical attention. The very beginning of the first half of the added time was a bit more even, and even Spartak moved forward a bit. But Wisła did not lose its composure and in the 99th minute the stadium erupted for the third time! After a corner kick, a goal was scored, which the announcer described as “long-awaited”. The ball was headed into the goal for the first time since returning to Reymonta by the captain of Wisła Kraków, Alan Uryga. Wisła had promotion in their hands!
Unfortunately, it didn't last long. One of Spartak's few attacks at the very beginning of the second half of extra time unexpectedly ended with a goal. Duris used a good pass from the right and it was 3:1. In the 112th minute, however, a groan of disappointment was heard throughout Krakow. Rafał Mikulec ran one-on-one with the goalkeeper for several dozen meters, only to finally… shoot straight at him. In the 115th minute, after some confusion in the penalty area, Rodado shot, but it was just wide of the post. In the 118th minute, Baena luckily scored, but the referees decided it was offside.
There were no more chances, which meant that the promotion was to be decided by penalties! The Wisła fans sang the anthem and emotions reached their peak. And in the first round, Wisła gained an advantage. Alan Uryga made no mistake, and right after that, Duris's shot was blocked by Kamil Broda. Unfortunately, from that moment on, Wisła's drama began, because a moment later, Biedrzycki's shot was saved by Frelih, and Spartak equalized. In the third round, Jaroch hit the post, and a Spartak player used his penalty.
In the fourth round, Angel Rodado scored his penalty, but so did the visiting player. The fifth round was to decide everything. On the Wisła side, Marc Carbo shot and scored. The final word belonged to Bainovic, but he… shot over the crossbar. And so the fun continued. In the sixth round, Mikulec scored, but so did Kubista. The seventh round saw Duarte and Corryn score. In the eighth, Gogół and Ahl scored, in the ninth, Baena and Holik, in the tenth, Kutwa and Azango.
As if that wasn't enough excitement, in the 11th round Broda hit the opposing goalkeeper, but the referee ordered a replay! And in that round Broda made no mistake, but the visiting goalkeeper also scored. So both teams started shooting again. Round 12? Uryga scored, but so did Duris. Round 13? Biedrzycki and Paur scored.
And everything was decided in round number 14! Jaroch scored, but after him Kamil Broda finally caught Kratochvil! Wisła advanced to the fourth round of the LKE qualifiers and will play there with Cercle Brugge.