A dignified farewell: Cercle - Wisła 1:4

It was an evening full of emotions. After a 6-1 defeat in the first leg, the return match was played in Brugge, Belgium. The Krakow team approached the match against Cercle with confidence, winning 4-1 with goals from Uryga, Kiss, Gogół, and Zwoliński. However, this result wasn't enough to secure a place in the UEFA Conference League group stage. The White Star bid a fitting farewell to the international stage.

(Un)sure beginning

The match started evenly, although the hosts were the first to threaten in the fifth minute. Three minutes later, Kazimierz Moskal's men created a real chance, but the Cercle defense rose to the occasion and cleared the ball wide of their goal.

The 14th minute brought the hosts their first serious warning sign – Duarte had a perfect chance after Baena's pass, but Warleson sent the ball in for a corner. Moments later, the score was 1-0 when Alan Uryga slotted the ball into the net. That was just the beginning, as Rodado first fired a shot over the crossbar, and then Tamas Kiss beat the Brugge goalkeeper for his debut goal.

The Krakow team severely limited their opponents' options, making it difficult for them to create opportunities. Cercle, on the other hand, pressed hard, eager to get on the scoresheet again. Duarte, Kiss, and Baena all had their chances. Before the break, the Belgians tested Kamil Broda's form, making a fantastic save to save a dangerous shot from Felipe Augusto.

Reverse fate

Coach Kazimierz Moskal started the second half with changes, bringing on Sukiennicki and Gogół in place of Dziedzic and Duarte. The Cercle Brugge players, irritated by the game and the result, took to the pitch determined to make up for lost time. The opening period belonged to them, creating several dangerous chances, but Kamil Broda and the Wisła defense rose to the occasion, effectively repelling every attack from their opponents.

In the 55th minute, Cerle had a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit from a corner kick. However, a series of quick passes proved insufficient to break down Wisła's solid defense, which steadfastly defended its lead. Even though Wisła found it difficult to find their footing in the second half, and Brugge dominated possession, their opponents were unable to convert their advantage into goals.

In the 73rd minute, Patryk Gogół secured a one-on-one position with the goalkeeper and scored with a precise shot to make it 3-0. However, the Brugge side didn't give up. Five minutes later, Felipe Augusto exploited a gap in Wisła's defense, firing the ball into the net. Moments later, following a swift counterattack, Łukasz Zwoliński hit the crossbar, narrowly missing his first goal for the striker. He succeeded in doing so in stoppage time, when he backheeled the ball to make it 4-1 for the R22 side.

The match ended in a 4-1 victory for Wisła Kraków, but the result proved insufficient to reverse their deficit from the first leg of the two-legged tie. Wisła thus ends their European competition campaign with their heads held high.

Cercle Brugge - Wisla Krakow (0:2):

• 0:1 Uryga 16'
• 0:2 Kiss 18'
• 0:3 Gogoł 73'
• 1:3 Felipe Augusto 79'
• 1:4 Zwoliński 90+4'

Cercle Brugge: Warleson - Diakité (84' Magnee), Lietaert, Popović, Miangue (46' Nazinho) - Nunes (74' van der Bruggen H), Bruninho (74' Minda), Francis - Outtara, Brunner (46' Denkey) - Augusto

Wisła Kraków: Broda - Jaroch, Uryga, Łasicki, Mikulec - Carbó (80' Kutwa), Dziedzic (46' Sukiennicki) - Baena (61' Alfaro), Duarte (46' Gogół), Kiss (73' Zwoliński) - Rodado

Judge: H. Feşnic (ROU)

Yellow cards: Francis - Pogorzała, Jaroch, Alfaro