Click here to see the gallery
The match in Płock, where the White Star played against the revelation of the season, that before the play-off was fourth, ended the fixture 31. In case of winning, Jerzy Brzęczyk’s team could have minimized the distance to the league leaders, whereas, if Wisła Kraków had won the game, the point difference between them and their opponent would be only 2 points.

First half for the White Star

From the very beginning, it was the team from Kraków that looked slightly better and did not let their rival speed up. The first shot on target was made by Jakub Bartkowski, however the goalkeeper Thomas Dähne showed his good form and even the ball that moved in an unnatural way because of poor conditions of the goal area, could not surprise him. However, with just 12 minutes on the clock Bartkowski tried his luck again and this time he gave us an early lead after making use of the pass from Carlitos, from the left side of the pitch. Then, Wisła had a chance to score another goal but unfortunately, before the ball was put in the net by Tibor Halilović, it had passed the goal-line.

A moment later, Wisła Płock lost one of their important players – Giorgi Merebashvili – that got injured and was replaced by Jakub Łukowski who just 180 seconds later made an opening pass to Michalak, who, however, was stopped by devotedly defending Bartkowski. The joy of the team from Kraków did not last long as Wisła Płock was still looking for their chances and, in the end, Uryga, a player formed in Wisła Kraków, equalised in minute 24.

This loss did not break our team and the White Star supporters gathered in the Kazimierza Górskiego Stadium did not have to wait long for another goal. Efforts made by our players in the next few minutes led to the first goal scored by Halilović, who got a vertical pass from Imáz. 

Second half for Wisła Płock

After the half-time, there were no changes in the line-up of both teams, but the numbers on the scoreboard changed just after the opening whistle. Cywka lost the ball and Wisła Płock did not think twice before taking advantage of the situation. Our midfielder wanted to correct his mistake quickly but instead of it, he put the ball into his own net. For the next 10 minutes, Wisła Kraków ws incapable of creating any clear chance. It was when they woke up that Wisła Płock defensors and goalkeeper had to show their skills trying to stop well-combined actions of Mitrović with Imáz and then, Vélez with Imáz.

The German goalkeeper had to save his team again when Bartkowski raced in the Wisła Płock penal area from the left side of the pitch or when Imáz passed the ball to Llonch who tried his luck.

Last minutes of the game belonged to Julián Cuesta, who saved in an incredible way the shot by Uryga and then saved the White Star team from losing third goal with fantastic diving stop. Wisła Płock did not stop trying to score but the luck was on our side and Dźwigała’s shot stopped on the bar.    

What next?

Within less than a week, at the Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium Wisła Kraków is going to host the team from the Capital. Legia, currently occupying the third position in the league, will try to erase the bad impression after their last game against Zagłębie Lubin. The statistics show Legia is not an easy rival for Wisła, even in spite of our last victory in Warsaw (2:0), as the White Star team have not achieved to win on their own stadium for four seasons. What can cause worries to Wisła coach is the fact that Jakub Bartkowski and Pol Llonch, one of the most constant points in the central zone of the pitch, got suspended for yellow card accumulation and, as a consequence, cannot be taken into consideration while preparing the line-up.

Wisła Płock 2-2 Wisła Kraków

0:1 Bartkowski 12’ 
1:1 Uryga 24’ 
1:2 Halilović 32’ 
2:2 Cywka 46’ (OG) 

Wisła P.: Dähne - Uryga, Dźwigała, Byrtek, Reca - Merebashvili (16’ Łukowski), Szymański, Furman, Michalak - Štilić (75’ Rasak) - Kanté

Wisła K.: Cuesta - Palčič, Veléz, Arsenić, Bartkowski - Mitrović (76’ Brlek), Cywka, Llonch - Halilović (84’ Boguski), López, Imaz (88’ Małecki)

Yellow cards: Uryga, Štilić, Veléz - Llonch, Imaz, Bartkowski

Referee: Artur Aluszyk (from Barlinek)

Attendance: 7 012

Jakub Pobożniak
Wisła Kraków Press Office