Hajduk Split knock Raków Częstochowa out of Conference League 5-4 on aggregate
Raków Częstochowa lost 3-2 after extra time to Hajduk Split in the second leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off, sealing a 5-4 aggregate defeat in Częstochowa.
Match progression and extra-time decider
Raków Częstochowa were eliminated from the UEFA Conference League play-offs following a 3-2 defeat after extra time against Hajduk Split at Limanowskiego Street. Following a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Croatia, the aggregate score ended 5-4 in favor of the visitors. Hajduk opened the scoring in the 1st minute when Ron Raci converted a header following a corner kick, which stood after a video review confirmed Raków goalkeeper Kacper Trelowski tripped over a teammate. Lamine Diaby-Fadiga had an equalizer ruled out for offside in the 12th minute before leveling the score in the 61st minute with a penalty kick after a foul on Bogdan Racovitan. Michele Sego put Hajduk back in front in the 66th minute, but Mahir Emreli headed in an 88th-minute equalizer to force extra time. Rokas Pukstas scored the decisive goal with a 94th-minute header before a crowd of 5,500 spectators.
- Ron Raci heads in the opening goal for Hajduk Split
- Erick Otieno leaves the pitch due to injury
- Lamine Diaby-Fadiga equalizes for Raków from a penalty kick
- Michele Sego scores on a counter-attack to restore Hajduk's lead
- Erroneous substitution board leads to Michael Ameyaw leaving the pitch
- Mahir Emreli heads home an equalizer for Raków to force extra time
- Rokas Pukstas scores a header in extra time to win the tie for Hajduk
Substitution error and player reactions
The match featured a technical blunder in the 84th minute during a planned double substitution by Raków manager Dawid Kroczek. The fourth official displayed the wrong number on the substitution board, mistakenly removing winger Michael Ameyaw from the pitch alongside Patryk Makuch for Isak Brusberg and Adin Molnar. Raków staff realized the mistake only after Ameyaw had crossed the touchline, making the substitution irreversible according to match regulations. Ameyaw reflected on the team's defensive lapses after the match in an interview with Kanał Sportowy.
Big disappointment, what more can I say? We lose goals after set pieces. It does not matter whether we deserved it or not, we were simply eliminated. Big disappointment and that is how I can sum it all up.
Raków defender Fran Tudor also expressed frustration over the outcome when speaking to the same broadcaster.
Poor, to be honest. You could feel that we were better on the pitch, but we did not score goals, and the rivals scored easy goals. There is a sense of disappointment.
Financial fallout and domestic standing
The elimination denies Raków a guaranteed 5.1 million euro payout from UEFA for participating in the Conference League phase, leaving the club with 1.3 million euros accumulated during the qualifying rounds. The result adds pressure on manager Dawid Kroczek, who took charge in May following the departure of Marek Papszun. Raków currently sit in last place in the Ekstraklasa standings with zero points after three rounds. Off the pitch, Częstochowa city council approved 5.25 million PLN for design work on a new stadium at the former Elanex site on the same day as the fixture.
- Earned in qualifying
- 1.3 €M
- Base UEFA league phase payout
- 5.1 €M
Wider European campaign for Polish clubs
Raków's exit came on the same evening that Górnik Zabrze were knocked out of the Conference League following a 4-1 loss to AS Monaco at Stade Louis II, losing 7-3 on aggregate. Only two Polish clubs reached the league phase of European competitions for the 2026/27 campaign. Jagiellonia Białystok secured their place in the Europa League league phase with a 2-1 win over Dinamo Tbilisi, earning 0.200 points for the association ranking. Lech Poznań also qualified for the Europa League following a 2-2 draw against FC Thun, contributing 0.100 points to keep Poland in 10th place in the UEFA country coefficient ranking.
