Piast Gliwice won on penalties against Hutnik Kraków and advanced to the next round of the Polish Cup. We present post-match statements from Andreas Katsantonis, Jakub Lewicki, Tihomir Kostadinov and coaches of both teams Aleksandar Vukovic and Maciej Musiał.
Andreas Katsantonis: “It wasn’t a good match for us. We had many situations that we could have ended with a goal. We played worse at the end, which resulted in conceding two goals. We will analyze the mistakes we made so that they don’t happen again in the next matches.”
Jakub Lewicki: “The important thing is that the team advanced to the next round. In the first half we dominated and could have scored more goals. However, in the second half the intensity disappeared and we conceded two goals. This is a valuable lesson for us for the future. The most important thing is that we advanced.”
Tihomir Kostadinov: “For neutral fans, it was a great match because there was a lot of drama in it. We made it like that. We were winning 2-0 and we were supposed to finish it off by scoring the third goal. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to do that. Sometimes it’s like that in football that if you don’t close the match early enough, you get one goal, then another and the opponent catches up with us. Then extra time and more drama. Fortunately, in the end, every player who scored penalties took their chance and we advanced.”
Aleksandar Vuković (Piast Gliwice coach): “I congratulate the hosts on their performance. They performed as we could have expected. I warned the team that they were a tough opponent and one worthy of respect. That’s how we played, especially in the first half and most of the second half. We didn’t use the situation to close the match. We had our chances to score a goal for 3-0. It didn’t work out and then from the first dangerous situation of the opponent, after a shot from outside the penalty area it’s 2-1 and then, as it happens in the Polish Cup, nothing is under control anymore, and there is football in which impulses and reflexes work, not worked out things. You could say that miracles happen. Then a goal for 2-2 and extra time, in which a lot happened. In the end, if we couldn’t advance confidently, I congratulate the team for being able to keep their cool, confidently taking penalties and deservedly winning the promotion. It wasn’t without difficulty and problems, but sometimes it happens and you have to survive it. Some people think that this is embarrassment, because such slogans are used. Every year there is fodder and ridicule, but people do not reflect that this is simply football, which has its unwritten rules. One of them is that everyone in this one match has their chance and that was also visible. Finally, congratulations once again to the hosts, but also congratulations to my team for advancing”.
Maciej Musiał (Hutnik Kraków coach): “I don’t want to say I’m disappointed, because I’m not. I was aware of who we were playing against and how the match would look. It must be emphasized that the better team won, Piast deserved this promotion and congratulations to this team for how it looked, especially in the first part of the match. We had a big problem with playing our own football, because the opponent pressed us well. I think we were a bit too tense, especially at the beginning. Additionally, we changed the way we defended and it didn’t quite work. The second half looked a bit better. Despite the defeat, or rather the defeat on penalties, it wasn’t a complete defeat for me. We didn’t advance to the next round, but the match ended in a 3-3 draw. I wanted to thank the players for their character. At times the football was average, but the opponent was very strong, the players believed until the end, we made up for the result twice”.
Press Office
GKS Piast SA
