Lech Poznań edges promoted Wieczysta Kraków 2-1 three days after Champions League qualifying exit
Three days after a painful Champions League exit, Lech Poznań returned to domestic action with a 2-1 win at newly promoted Wieczysta Kraków, sealed by two first-half strikes.
Quick turnaround after European blow
Lech Poznań arrived in Kraków just three days after a Champions League qualifying collapse. Having won 4-1 away at Aarhus GF, the Polish champions lost the return leg 1-4 at home and were eliminated on penalties. Head coach Niels Frederiksen made six changes to the starting eleven, giving minutes to players such as Mateusz Skrzypczak, Joao Moutinho and Yannick Agnero. Before the match Frederiksen told his squad they could not dwell on the defeat.
We can't feel sorry for ourselves. We have to move on.
First-half chances and two Lech goals
The opening period was open. In the 12th minute Tobias Christensen struck from the edge of the area and Mateusz Lis tipped the ball onto the crossbar. Nine minutes later Allahyar Sayyadmanesh connected with an overhead kick that also hit the woodwork. Agnero then missed a one-on-one after being sent through by Pablo Rodriguez. Lech made the breakthrough in the 35th minute when Agnero received a pass from Luis Palma, sidestepped Antonio Milić and fired into the far corner from 20 metres. Eight minutes later Sayyadmanesh tried his luck from distance; his shot glanced off Aleksandar Djermanović's head and looped over goalkeeper Antoni Mikułko to make it 2-0.
- Christensen's shot from the edge of the box is tipped onto the crossbar by Lis.
- Sayyadmanesh's overhead kick hits the crossbar.
- Agnero scores from 20 metres after a pass from Palma.
- Sayyadmanesh's long-range shot deflects off Djermanović and loops over Mikułko.
- Piazon heads in Dankowski's cross to make it 1-2.
- Mikułko saves from Hakans; Gumny hits the post from 20 metres.
Wieczysta pulls one back
Wieczysta, playing its first home match of the season at Wisła Kraków's stadium, kept pushing after the break. The promoted side's pressure paid off in the 66th minute. Kamil Dankowski delivered a cross from the right and Lucas Piazon got ahead of Skrzypczak to head past Lis. The goal cut the deficit to 2-1 and gave the home crowd hope of a first Ekstraklasa point.
Late drama but no equaliser
Lech had chances to restore a two-goal cushion. Agnero hit the post in the 61st minute, and with ten minutes left Daniel Hakans broke through after a mistake by Kamil Pestka, only for Mikułko to push his shot onto the upright. Moments later Robert Gumny struck the post from 20 metres. At the other end, Yannick Agnero was denied by Mikułko in the final action of the game. Lech held on to claim three points.
What the result means
Lech Poznań now has four points from two league matches, having drawn its opening fixture. The champions showed they could compartmentalise the Aarhus disappointment, though the narrow margin reflected a spirited display from the hosts. Wieczysta Kraków, under former Wisła icon Kazimierz Moskal, remains without a point after two rounds. The club's first top-flight campaign has begun with back-to-back defeats, first away at Radomiak and now at home to the title holders.
