The beginning of the match played out at Tottenham’s bidding. Even though Wisła’s opponents didn’t create any 100% goal scoring opportunities, they nonetheless definitely dominated the field and didn’t allow Wisła’s team to unfurl their wings. The home side’s attacks became more resolute towards the end of the first half, resulting in a number of situations in which a goal should have been scored. Five minutes before the end of the first half Marcin Baszczyński passed the ball from the right side to Junior Diaz, who relayed the ball with his head along the length of the goal to Rafał Boguski. The “Cockerel’s” goalie, however, beat Wisła’s midfielder to the ball at the very last minute. At the very end of the first half the Londoners’ Brazilian goalie defended a shot by Radosław Sobolewski in a one-on-one situation.

It appeared as though Wisła’s players had finally caught the wind in their sail, and that they would be the ones dealing out the cards in the second half of the match. However, it turned out to be just the opposite. The guest’s once again took the initiative. In the 52nd minute Campbell rushed into the penalty area after having outmaneuvered Baszczyński, but Cleber managed to clear the ball out from under his feet at the last moment. Soon thereafter, Głowacki beat Bale to the ball in the penalty area. In another play, Modrić took a shot on goal from beyond the penalty area. Tottenham finally took the lead, but after…an own goal. In the 58th minute of the match Bale crossed the ball into the penalty area from the left flank, while Głowacki, who was being pressed upon by Campbell, unfortunately headed the ball straight into the goal, straight past the totally unsuspecting Mariusz Pawełek. A few minutes later it could have been 2:0. Mauro Cantoro lost possession of the ball in the center of pitch to Zokora, who, unstopped, ran straight in the direction of Mariusz Pawełek’s goal. Zokora’s shot flew just a short distance from the goal post.

When it seemed as though Wisła’s players wouldn’t get up off their knees, they finally woke up. In the 78th minute Paweł Brożek was blocked by King in Tottenham’s penalty area. Two minutes later, Radosław Sobolewsk’s shot hit the corner of the goal, where the crossbar meets the goal post. The home team finally evened the score in the 83rd minute. Junior Diaz passed the ball to Paweł Brożek, who, seeing that Gomes had come out of the goal, lobbed the ball over the Brazilian goalkeeper.

Wisła’s players then rushed to the offense. Three minutes before the end of regulation time Cleber fired a shot on Gomes’ goal, but the Cockerel’s goalie rebounded the ball out in front of himself. Paweł Brożek got the rebound but the Brazilian was able to catch his headshot. This was one of Wisła’s last plays. The match ended in a 1:1 tie.

Success was near, but it must be admitted, that the outcome of the match was determined by the initial minutes of the second half, when the home team allowed themselves to be dominated by their opponents. You can’t win a match if you don’t play at 100% throughout the entire 90 minutes.

Wisła Kraków – Tottenham Hotspur 1:1 (0:0)
0:1 Głowacki (OG)
1:1 Paweł Brożek

First Match: 1:2. Advances: Tottenham Hotspur

Wisła Kraków: Pawełek – Baszczyński, Cleber, Głowacki, Piotr Brożek – Boguski (82’ Marcelo), Cantoro (66’ Zieńczuk), Sobolewski, Diaz – Jirsak (32’ Łobodziński) – Paweł Brożek

Tottenham Hotspur: Gomes – Gunter, Woodgate, King, Bale – Lennon, Jenas, Zokora, Campbell (68’ O’Hara) – Modrić (77’ Huddlestone), –Bent

Yellow cards: Łobodziński, Cleber – Woodgate, Bale, Jenas, Zokora
Referee: Alexandru Dan Tudor
Spectators: 12 900

Photo. Maks Michalczak
Wisła Kraków SA Press Office