In a dramatic match of the 22nd round of the PKO BP Ekstraklasa, Pogoń Szczecin defeated Górnik Zabrze 1:0. The result was decided by a controversial penalty awarded in the 90th minute after VAR analysis. For the Portowcy, this is a historic success, marking their first victory at the stadium on Roosevelt Street in over 6000 days. Górnik, the favorite of the match, wasted the chance to take the lead in the league table.

End of the Zabrze Curse

Pogoń Szczecin won away against Górnik for the first time in over 16 years, breaking a streak of 6002 days without a victory at Roosevelt Street.

Key VAR Decision

A penalty in the 90th minute for Josema's handball, converted by Ulvestad, decided the sensational result of the match.

Million-Zloty Win in Lotto

In the February 21st draw, the main prize of 6,810,033 PLN was won. The lucky player matched all six numbers.

Runner-Up's Miss

Górnik Zabrze, despite dominance and shots hitting the frame of the goal, failed to take the top spot in the PKO BP Ekstraklasa table.

The match in Zabrze was supposed to be a formality for the hosts to return to the top position. Górnik dominated from the first minutes, and Maksym Chłań hit the frame of the goal twice – once the post and once the crossbar. Pogoń Szczecin, led by coach Thomas Thomasberg, focused on deep defense, not registering a single shot on target in the first half. However, the defensive tactic paid off in the final moments when, after a corner kick, Fredrik Ulvestad struck Josema's hand. The referee, after consulting the VAR system, pointed to the penalty spot, and Ulvestad himself confidently converted the penalty into a goal. The Portowcy's victory ended a terrible streak lasting since 2009. For over 16 years, the team from Szczecin had failed to take all three points from Zabrze. The hosts' coach, Michal Gasparik, did not hide his disappointment, pointing to a lack of luck and quality in his team's offense. This success has enormous psychological significance for Pogoń, allowing them to distance themselves from the lower regions of the table, although – contrary to some reports – the team still occupies a safe mid-table position. The stadium in Zabrze has been considered a fortress for decades, where Pogoń Szczecin has won only a few times in its entire history. The rivalry between the two clubs dates back to the post-war period, and Górnik Zabrze remains one of Poland's most decorated teams with 14 national championship titles.At the same time, emotions also accompanied the lottery draws. In Saturday's Lotto draw the main prize was won amounting to over 6.8 million Polish zloty. The lucky winner correctly guessed six numbers, which, given the increased interest in lottery games in recent days, constitutes one of the higher winnings in the current quarter. On Sunday, fans' attention also shifted to other pitches, including Gdynia, where Arka hosted GKS Katowice in a battle for valuable points in the context of staying in the top league. „Wielkie zwycięstwo. Wspaniale było tu wygrać po tak długiej przerwie. Wiedziałem o tym, że Zabrze nie kojarzy się dobrze, więc tym bardziej cieszymy się sukcesem.” (A great victory. It was wonderful to win here after such a long break. I knew that Zabrze doesn't have good associations for us, so we are even more pleased with the success.) — Thomas ThomasbergResult of the key 22nd round match: Górnik Zabrze 0:1 Pogoń Szczecin

Mentioned People

  • Fredrik Ulvestad — Norwegian midfielder for Pogoń Szczecin, scorer of the winning goal from the penalty spot.
  • Michal Gasparik — Slovak coach of Górnik Zabrze, who criticized his team's lack of effectiveness.
  • Thomas Thomasberg — Coach of Pogoń Szczecin, the strategist responsible for breaking the losing streak in Zabrze.