Bitter draw: Wisła Kraków - Arka Gdynia 2:2

The closing clash of the 5th round of the Betclic 1 League between Wisła Kraków and Arka Gdynia ended in a 2-2 draw. Angel Rodado scored a double for the hosts, and their dedication and fight were enough for a single point today.

The opening minutes were played primarily in midfield, but Anton Chichkan's alertness was already tested. Our defenders played the ball carelessly from the back, and after a misplaced pass, one of the Ark players came very close to winning the ball. The Belarusian stepped out of goal with aplomb, saving his team from a dangerous situation.

Having a player like Angel Rodado in your squad can change the outcome of a match in the blink of an eye. The Spanish striker demonstrated this in the 13th minute, firing a powerful shot towards Lenarcik's goal. The shot was out of reach of the visiting goalkeeper, and the score was soon 1-0 to the hosts!

The Yellow-Blues threatened Wisła with counterattacks. In the 29th minute, Mariusz Kutwa made a brilliant comeback, clearing up a dangerous opportunity for the visitors to equalize. Wisła certainly displayed more quality in attack, but Wojciech Łobodziński's men were determined to keep pace with their actions in the White Star's penalty area.

In the 41st minute, our number nine came close to scoring a double. Unfortunately, the ball fell just a few centimeters short of hitting the crossbar and into Paweł Lenarcik's net. The first half didn't see many breaks, which meant the referee only added one minute of added time. Neither team created any clear-cut chances, and we soon faced a fifteen-minute break before the end of the match.

Maintain the advantage

At the start of the second half, none other than Angel Rodado pulled off another move very similar to that of the first. The Spaniard sped up outside the penalty area with the ball, then, edging past defenders, slotted the ball into the right corner of the Gdynia goal with a well-placed shot. By the 49th minute, the players in red shirts were already 2-0 up. However, the visitors didn't have to wait long for a response. First, Arka's team hit the metal frame of Chichkan's goal with a powerful shot, and they made no mistake in the next move. In the 53rd minute, João Oliveira found himself in a one-on-one situation, successfully scoring a goal from the spot, making it a quick 2-1.

The initiative now seemed to be in the visitors' favor. The Arkowcy, bolstered by their substitutions, repeatedly attacked and tried to regain possession high up the pitch. In the 70th minute, Wiktor Biedrzycki made a late save, earning him a second yellow card and a red card. With twenty minutes remaining, Wisła had to defend their advantage with a man down. However, coach Moskal's team refused to be confined to their own half and continued to build attacks. Rodado and the previously introduced Starzyński sought a second chance, but were unfortunately unsuccessful in their efforts.

In the 84th minute, Joao Oliveira kept his composure in the penalty area, scoring his second goal and securing a 2-2 draw. The match remained tense, with five minutes of added time added on. The game was riddled with fouls, leading to the referee frequently blowing his whistle. The winning goal seemed to remain in the air, but no one could find the back of the net, resulting in a draw at the R22.

Wisła Kraków - Arka Gdynia (1-0):

• 1-0 Rodado 13'
• 2-0 Rodado 49'
• 2:1 Olivier 53'
• 2:2 Olivier 84'

Wisła Kraków: Cziczkan - Jaroch, Uryga, Biedrzycki, Mikulec - Carbo, Kutwa (73' Łasicki) - Baena (65' Starzyński), Sukiennicki (65' Gogół), Kiss (73' Duarte) - Rodado

Arka Gdynia: Lenarcik – Stolc (73' Lipkowski), Marcjanik, Dobrotka (83' Jakubczyk), Gojny – Staniszewski (83' Hermoso) – Oliveira, Vitalucci (63' Sobczak), Rzuchowski, Gaprindashvili (63' Skóra) – Czubak

Judged by: Sebastian Jarzębak (Piekary Śląskie)
Yellow cards: Vitalucci, Dobrotka, Rzuchowski, Hermoso - Biedrzycki, Starzyński. Red card: Biedrzycki (69, second yellow)
Viewers: 14,079