A heavyweight match for both teams. This is how the clash between Stal Mielec and Puszcza Niepołomice could be described. The hosts were just above the relegation zone, and the guests were in it. Additionally, Korona Kielce (0-0 against Lechia Gdańsk) and Radomiak Radom (1-0 against Pogoń Szczecin) scored points in this round. That's why we had to chase them. Chase and leave your rival behind. Especially since winning is not their strong point this season.
Stal and Puszcza on “musik”
Stal, for example, last did it on October 5, when they won at home against Lechia Gdańsk 2:1. Puszcza only a week ago, on Saturday, November 2, they sensationally defeated Lech Poznań 2-0 and climbed out of last place. They still needed a lot to improve their situation in the table, so they had to do everything to score points in Mielec.
A goal that Gullaumier didn't like
However, in the first half, Stal made every effort to score a goal. However, they missed time and time again. First, in the sixth minute, Robert Dadok shot directly into the hands of Kewin Komar from just a few meters. Three minutes later, Guillaumier was centimeters away from goal. The Maltese shot from behind the sixteen, and the ball, slightly bounced by Łukasz Sołowiej's head, hit the crossbar.
The goal frame was not a friend to the Stal midfielder in this match, because in the 28th minute he hit it again, only this time it hit the post. Guillaumier must have been really irritated by this fact, because before the break he made another attempt, but this time he narrowly missed. So until the break we didn't see a goal or any interesting action by Puszcza Niepołomice.
Shukurin shoots, Stal wins. Wilderness? Present, but nothing more
In the second half, the picture of the game did not change much. Puszcza had no idea how to break down Stal's defense. The people of Mielce, in turn, tried hard and were rewarded for their perseverance. In the 67th minute, things started to boil in the visitors' penalty area, with Robert Dadok being the most conscious of all, passing the ball to Ilya Szkurin, and the Belarusian, introduced from the bench a few minutes earlier, scored from close range. This broke a streak of eight games in a row without a goal.
The viceroy of Ekstraklasa scorers had a really long drought, so when he finally regained control, he went all out. In the 74th minute, Dadok made another wing attack and passed it to Szkurin in the penalty area, which, with a bit of luck (Puszcza's defenders were not far from blocking the shot), made it 2-0. Stal had a big advantage, and the Niepołomice team did not show anything that could pose any threat to the hosts.
Ultimately, Stal won 2-0 and is already four points ahead of the relegation zone, which includes Puszcza. Now it's time for the international break, and after it Stal will go to Radom to play against Radomiak (Sunday, November 24). In turn, Puszcza will host Widzew Łódź in Krakow (Monday, November 25).
Ekstraklasa, Stal Mielec – Puszcza Niepołomice 2-0
- Goals: Szkurin 67', 74'
- Steel: Mądrzyk – Wlazło, Esselink, Senger – Jaunzems (82. Bagalianis), Tkacz (86. Gerbowski), Guillaumier, Getinger – Dadok (86. Knap), Krykun (62. Assayag) – Wolsztyński (62. Szkurin) – Coach: Janusz Niedźwiedź
- Wilderness: Komar – Craciun, Sołowiej (73. Blagaić), Yakuba – Mateusz Stępień (73. Konrad Stępień), Szymonowicz, Serafin (73. Hajda), Mroziński (89. Walski) – Lee, Cholewiak (89. Tomalski) – Kosidis – Coach: Tomasz Tułacz