There was a match like this: from hell to heaven, i.e. Wisła - Real Zaragoza 4:1

On Thursday evening, Wisła Kraków will face a difficult test to overcome their two-goal deficit from the first leg in Trnava. Many are already predicting Spartak will advance to the next round, giving Wisła little chance. Turning the tables on a higher-ranked opponent will certainly not be an easy task, but as the rich history of the Kraków club has repeatedly demonstrated, one must persevere until the very end, even when the situation seems hopeless. It's worth revisiting the rematch against Spanish side Real Zaragoza, whose on-field action would have been a credit to the best scriptwriter.

Before we move on to this clash, however, it's important to recall the earlier events at La Romareda Stadium. The White Star started this two-legged tie with great promise, taking a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute thanks to a beautiful strike from Radosław Kałużny. However, it was a rather poor start, and from then on, the match was entirely in the hands of the hosts. Stung by the goal conceded, Real Madrid managed to equalize before halftime, only to take complete control of the match after the break. The Poles were completely unable to cope with their opponents' pace, combination play, and technical preparation, and the punishment of conceding another three goals seemed very lenient anyway. At the final whistle, the scoreboard showed a 4-1 scoreline against the Kraków side, who, according to many observers, had already ended their European competition adventure that evening. However, as it turned out two weeks later, these assessments were premature...

On September 28, 2000, Wisła Kraków faced Real Zaragoza in their home stadium for the second leg. Even before the match, few expected to overturn a three-goal deficit, and the first 45 minutes managed to dampen the enthusiasm of even the most optimistic. The match began with a missed penalty by Maciej Żurawski and an unlucky save by Marcin Baszczyński, who headed the ball into his own net. The aggregate score was 5-1 in favor of the Spaniards after the fifth minute, and it remained unchanged until the end of the half. It seemed Orest Lenczyk's men would need a miracle to score four goals and force extra time.

Coach Lenczyk made three surprising changes before the second half. He removed Ryszard Czerwiec, Tomasz Kulawik, and Olgierd Moskalewicz, the players who were Wisła Kraków's strengths at the time. They were replaced on the pitch by Grzegorz Niciński, Łukasz Sosin, and Kelechi Iheanacho. The fans gathered on Reymonta Street were stunned to see that their team would now be playing with five nominal strikers. However, as it quickly became clear, there was method to this madness, as something truly extraordinary soon began to happen.

In the 51st minute of his debut, and as it turned out, his only goal in a White Star jersey, Iheanacho scored. The Nigerian striker, introduced at halftime, found the right spot and slotted home a goal to make it 1-1. A shy jubilation filled the Wisła fans, and chants of "Three more!" could be heard from the stands. With little to lose, the red-shirted players fueled further attacks and took the lead just four minutes later. Żurawski, on the run with the ball, passed the ball to Tomasz Frankowski, who was not known for making mistakes in scoring opportunities. This time was no different, and the aggregate deficit was reduced to two goals.

Years later, the players who played that day recalled that they truly believed they had a chance to turn the tables only after Kazimierz Moskal scored to make it 3-1. The current Wisła coach, in the 61st minute, opted for a powerful shot from outside the penalty area, sending journalists his Man of the Match nomination. The ball was so precise and powerful that it gave Zaragoza goalkeeper Juanmi no chance. With two-quarters of an hour remaining in regulation time, Wisła were just one goal short.

Putting the finishing touches on the score seemed to be the most difficult part of this quest for a result. Niciński, Sosin, and Iheanacho all tried, until the 88th minute finally arrived. The Aragonese team were under siege, and Kosowski stepped up to deliver a free kick. He delivered a cross from the right, causing a flurry of activity in the Real Madrid penalty area. Marek Zając's long ball hit the crossbar twice and ultimately landed at the feet of Tomasz Frankowski, who added the final piece of the puzzle from close range for Wisła Kraków. 4-1, and it would be extra time!

The exhausted players were unable to tip the scales of victory in either direction, despite having excellent opportunities. Wisła's side was slightly misplaced by Sosin, and Juanele couldn't close out the contest for the Spaniards after 120 minutes. It's worth noting that in one of the final moves, Baszczyński redeemed himself for his early error by clearing the ball off the goal line. After half an hour of extra time, the UEFA Cup first-round clash still hadn't won, and the winner would be decided by a penalty shootout.

The initiative now rested with Wisła Kraków, whose remarkable comeback shattered Real Zaragoza's mentality. The visiting coach, Juan Manuel Lillo, was furious, unable to understand what had happened to his players. The first two sets of penalties went flawlessly – Maciej Żurawski and Marek Zając scored for the team from Wawel, and Santiago Aragón and Roberto Acuña for the visitors. Arkadiusz Głowacki started the next set effectively, while Juanele, who could have ended the match in extra time, made a mistake for the Primera División team. The fans in the stands rejoiced at their advantage, but it was short-lived. In the fourth set, Baszczyński, for whom the match was a rollercoaster of emotions, misjudged a penalty kick. Yordi equalized, and we entered the fifth attempt with a draw. Tomasz Frankowski put the ball in the net for Wisła, and José Ignacio stepped up for the final penalty. The Spaniard took a run, shot, and… missed the target! His shot sailed wide, and the Reymonta stadium erupted in celebration! Wisła Kraków became the first club in Polish football history to beat a Spanish team in European competition. And what style!