SportGreat atmosphere, fight to the end and a goal from the “stadiums of the world” series. In the 10th round of the PKO BP Ekstraklasa season, Motor Lublin players treated their fans to a thriller with a happy ending. And they defeated the Polish runner-up.
A “friendly match” took place in the stands. Fans of Motor and Śląsk have been sympathizing with each other continuously for 35 years and have very cordial relations. The last time they could meet was in a league match in the top division in 1992. There was an atmosphere of a long-awaited football celebration at the Arena Lublin, and on Friday in the city itself there was no shortage of fans from Wrocław dressed in the colors of their club. Due to the fact that the supporters of the yellow-white-blue and green-white-red teams were cheering together from behind one of the goals, tickets for the visiting fans’ sector were on general sale. In total, the stadium was almost completely filled with over 14,000 spectators.
The first half was not very exciting for a long time. Emotions began to increase only in the third quarter, when the hosts’ large advantage began to translate into goal opportunities. However, Michał Król, Mbaye Jacques Ndiaye and Samuel Mraz, despite the chances, were unable to open the scoring. Missed opportunities could have taken revenge in the 37th minute, when after one of the few counterattacks by the visitors, first Ivan Brkić made a good intervention, and a moment later Petr Schwarz marked the post.
Śląsk went into the break with a 1-0 lead. Just before the whistle ending the first period, Jakub Świerczok was on the scoresheet, taking advantage of a good pass from Piotr Samec-Talar to the free field and winning the duel with the Motor goalkeeper. The experienced striker scored his debut goal for the Military, scoring a goal for his fifth top league club.
After the change of sides, the Motorists tried to equalize, but their efforts did not bring results for a long time. The most emotional part came at the end. In the 83rd minute, the Lublin team achieved their goal when Christopher Simon, introduced from the bench, scored with a header. The Senegalese took advantage of the misunderstanding of Śląsk’s defense in his own penalty area and scored his second goal this season.
When it seemed that the teams would share the points. the yellow-white-blue team struck a decisive blow in added time. Marek Bartos scored a fantastic goal from a free kick. The Slovak defender scored his debut goal after his transfer to Poland and ensured the Lublin team’s third win this season. And Śląsk is still the only team in the top league that has not yet tasted victory in the ongoing campaign.
Motor Lublin – Śląsk Wrocław 2:1 (0:1)
Goals: Simon 83, Bartos 90+ – Świerczok 44
Motor: Brkić – Stolarski (73 Wójcik), Bartos, Najemski, Palacz (73 Luberecki), Samper, Wolski, Ndiaye (60 Ceglarz), Caliskaner (60 Simon), M. Król (81 van Hoeven), Mraz
Silesia: Leszczyński – Żukowski, Szota, Petkov, Matsenko (90+ Bejger), Pokorny, Samiec-Talar (87 Sanchez), Schwarz, Cebula, Jezierski (78 Guercio), Świerczok (87 Musiolik)
Yellow cards: Mraz, Bartos, M. Król – Cebula, Świerczok
Referee: Marcin Szczerbowicz (Olsztyn)
