Górnik Zabrze beats Wisła Kraków 2:1 despite playing half an hour with ten men

Match overview

Górnik Zabrze defeated Wisła Kraków 2:1 in a PKO Ekstraklasa match on Sunday evening, 16 August 2026, at Górnik's home stadium. Goals from Lukas Sadilek in the 27th minute and Maksym Chłań in the 52nd minute gave the hosts a two-goal cushion before Jordi Sanchez pulled one back for Wisła in the 55th minute. Despite playing more than half an hour with a one-man advantage after Sondre Liseth's 57th-minute red card, the newly promoted visitors could not find an equaliser.

Wisła had an early chance in the 1st minute when Jordi Sanchez set up Angel Rodado, but Ondrej Zmrzly blocked the effort. In the 10th minute, a flowing Wisła move involving Julian Lelieveld, Julius Ertlthaler and Frederico Duarte ended with Sanchez's header being saved by Górnik goalkeeper Philipp Schulze. At the other end, Marcel Łubik denied Peter Federico from a free kick.

How the goals came

Górnik took the lead in the 27th minute. A free-kick delivery from Kacper Urbański was partially cleared in the penalty area, and the ball fell to Lukas Sadilek, whose scuffed shot beat Łubik and found the net via the post. Górnik doubled their advantage in the 52nd minute when Maksym Chłań struck a low free kick toward the far post that Łubik could not reach.

Wisła responded within two minutes. Jakub Krzyżanowski's throw-in and cross was headed against the crossbar, and the rebound fell to Jordi Sanchez, who converted from close range. The Spanish forward has been one of Wisła's standout performers early in the season, consistently finding scoring positions.

The red card and missed opportunity

In the 57th minute, Górnik's Sondre Liseth received a second yellow card, resulting in a red, for elbowing an opponent. Wisła also had a scare when referee Damian Sylwestrzak reviewed a foul by Maxence Maisonneuve on the monitor, but the yellow card stood and the defender stayed on.

Playing with an extra man for over 30 minutes, Wisła struggled to break down Górnik's compact defence. Coach Mariusz Jop acknowledged the shortfall after the match.

Gratuluję gospodarzom zwycięstwa i życzę powodzenia w kolejnych meczach pucharowych. Jeżeli chodzi o nas, to na pewno jest niedosyt, bo sytuacja tak się ułożyła, że graliśmy z przewagą jednego zawodnika.

Jop noted that Wisła created essentially one clear chance through Alan Uryga and a second half-chance from Angel Rodado, who shot from a half-volley. The coach pointed to missing duels on the flanks, decisions to shoot from central zones, and the precision of crosses as areas where his side fell short against a massed defence.

Broader context for both clubs

Górnik, who finished as Polish vice-champions and won the Polish Cup last season, are juggling European qualifying ties with league fixtures. They lost two-legged ties against Fenerbahce and Ferencvarosi in European qualifiers and still face AS Monaco in the Conference League elimination round. The Thursday-to-Sunday turnaround against Wisła tested their squad depth.

Wisła, returning to the Ekstraklasa after promotion, have won their home matches but have yet to pick up a point on the road. Jop resisted categorising his team as one that can only score at home, saying the squad is capable of picking up points away and is gaining experience with each match. He also asked for patience with Angel Rodado, who had a difficult evening in Zabrze.

Nie, ja nie chcę tego postrzegać w taki sposób. Faktycznie, jak spojrzymy na wyniki, to ta teoria się potwierdza. Natomiast jeszcze dużo przed nami spotkań u siebie i wyjazdowych.