There was a match… Wisła's trip to Rome

Continuing our "There Was a Match..." series, we look back at Wisła Kraków's UEFA Cup Round of 16 clash. It was 2003, and the Kraków team traveled all the way to Rome to play Lazio at the iconic Stadio Olimpico.

Wisła deservedly, yet still sensationally, eliminated FC Schalke 04 from the competition. Now the task seemed even more difficult, as they were to fight for European qualification against Italian side Lazio, managed by a young Roberto Mancini. An unusually large group of Polish supporters traveled to the Eternal City, where, gathered for an audience in St. Peter's Square, they could hear John Paul II, who was in office at the Vatican, saying: "Until now, I knew that the Vistula flows from Krakow to Gdańsk. Now I know for sure that the Vistula flows from Krakow to Rome. Good luck in tomorrow's match."

The time until kickoff flew by, and soon fans and journalists would have all their pre-match questions answered. The home coach made minor changes to the starting lineup from the league clash against AC Milan. This didn't mean, however, that Mancini was lenient about the two-legged tie with Wisła – the quality of his team allowed him to field two practically equal lineups. In the opening minutes, it seemed that the White Star team lacked a bit of courage and conviction. Coach Henryk Kasperczak's players enjoyed more possession, but were unable to launch their trademark quick attacks. Lazio, however, demonstrated their experience, meticulously pointing out the Krakow team's mistakes. Nigerian Uche delayed his pass too long, allowing the Italians to regain possession and win a corner, from which Nikola Lazetić opened the scoring in the 22nd minute.

The Kraków team had to wake up quickly if they didn't want the competition at the Stadio Olimpico to slip out of their hands before the break. The Biancocelesti came close to scoring again, but couldn't convert their chances into goals. These warnings, however, proved sufficient for the home crowd to witness a real spark from the visitors in the first half. In the 39th minute, Wisła Kraków pulled off a dream performance – Marcin Kuźba delivered a perfectly placed through ball, and Kalu Uche, receiving the ball, brought the opposition defense to the ground and secured a valuable equalizer! The midfielder redeemed himself for his role in the conceded goal, and from that moment on, Wisła Kraków controlled the game.

This time, however, it was the team from Wawel Castle who couldn't follow through and capitalize on their moment of advantage. To make matters worse, in the 44th minute—in a seemingly harmless situation—Mariusz Jop made an unfortunate intervention in the penalty area, directing the ball into his own net. One of our current coaches attempted an unsuccessful clearance from Chiesa's cross, sending the players in red shirts to the locker room with a goal down. The final few minutes of the first half, however, filled the visitors with optimism, and they eagerly awaited the continuation of the action.

The second half

It's even safe to say that after the break, Coach Kasperczak's players exceeded expectations. The Kraków team returned to the game with a fighting spirit, and a real fight broke out on the pitch. The results weren't long in coming. In the 50th minute, Maciej Żurawski made a good tackle and laid the ball out to the unmarked Kuźba. Luca Marchegiani's only recourse was a foul, prompting the referee to decisively award a penalty. The player who started the chaos took the shot, and for the second time, the scoreboard showed a draw. Żurawski scored, and it was 2-2!
A clearly transformed Wisła team played their moves without any inhibitions, leaving Lazio's defenders visibly worried. Polish fans could finally see their favorite team play their familiar style – playing fast and fearlessly. Kuźba and Kamil Kosowski, actively searching for a goal, could have scored directly from open play. The White Star's goal soon arrived, but it ultimately resulted from another foul by Marchegiani. The Italian goalkeeper again illegally attacked the legs of a Wisła player in the penalty area, and the referee awarded a second penalty. Maciej Żurawski confidently converted the penalty, scoring a double and putting the visitors ahead! From the 63rd minute on, the Kraków team were closer to their coveted quarterfinal spot!

The attacks on Lazio's goal were relentless, but Mancini's side managed to find effective countermeasures. Playing with a large number of players in the opponent's half is always fraught with risk, as the hosts' low-lying defense mercilessly demonstrated in the 71st minute. Argentine Claudio López, introduced earlier for Diego Simeone, stepped in well in his compatriot's place and sparked a lightning-fast counterattack that Enrico Chiesa finished off. 3-3!

The match at the Stadio Olimpico devolved into a back-and-forth, but neither side could find the winning line. Marcin Kuźba was undoubtedly unlucky that evening, unable to find the back of the net despite his best efforts. Paweł Strąk and Kosowski continued to pull off surprising moves for Wisła, while Claudio López was unable to add to his assist. The result remained unchanged, largely due to the strikers' misaligned aiming, and the outcome would soon be revealed in the return leg at the stadium on Reymonta Street.
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In Krakow, Wisła took the lead first, but Lazio, thanks to goals from Fernando Couto and Enrico Chiesa, overcame the deficit. The Italians then continued their campaign, only being eliminated in the semifinals by FC Porto. Despite their elimination from the competition, the White Star left a very positive impression on the international stage and memories that remain part of the club's legacy to this day. The match in Rome was broadcast live on national television by over 16 million viewers, cheering on the Polish team regardless of their location or sporting affiliation.