Arka won in Gdynia against Pogoń Siedlce, last in the table, 2:1 and gained further points from the teams occupying the two top positions in the league. Gojny and Sobczak scored goals for the hosts in the first part of the match, and after the change of sides, Podliński put a little hope into Pogoń’s hearts by confidently executing a penalty kick.
13th round – Betclic 1 league
Arka Gdynia – Pogoń Siedlce 2:1 (2:0)
Goals: Gojny 10′, Sobczak 23′ – Podliński 73′(k)
Back: Węglarz – Navarro (86′ Stolc), Hermoso, Marcjanik, Gojny – Gaprindaszwili (70′ Skóra), Sidibe (61′ Rzuchowski), Kocaba, Oliveira (70′ Vitalucci) – Sobczak, Czubak
Pursuit: Pruchniewski – Burka, Cassio, Majewski, Pik, Sinior, Hrnciar (91′ Drag), Pyrdoł (67′ Milasius), Szuprytowski (79′ Danielewicz), Demianiuk, Podliński
Yellow cards: Leather, Kocaba – Cassio
Judge: Tomasz Marciniak (Płock); VAR: Piotr Rzucidło (Warsaw)
Viewers: 7420
Fans in Gdynia, longing for first-league football, came out in droves on Sunday to help Arka achieve their sixth consecutive victory. The match, which took place under the banner of the fight against breast cancer, attracted many representatives of the fair sex to the stands, who were also heavily involved in enjoying the events on the pitch. As a result of the decisions already made in this round, coach Grzegorczyk’s team could get within two points of the leader on Sunday. In theory, the task seemed very realistic, because at the Olympic Games Arka was played by the last Betclic 1 League team, Pogoń Siedlce.
Theory is one thing, practice is another. It should be remembered that Adam Nocoń, who recently achieved excellent results with Odra Opole, took over Pogoń’s helm. During the international break, the coach certainly worked hard with his new players to ensure that their game began to bring the points necessary to maintain them. During the pre-match conference, coach Grzegorczyk did not hide that he expected a team strongly focused on its defensive game, counting on dangerous counter-attacks and set pieces. This attitude was to be opposed by the Arka team with a lineup that had been very stable for several rounds, including: with two strikers up front and two Spaniards in defense. Of course, Karol Czubak could attract attention, as he scored a hat-trick in Opole, leaving him only two goals behind Marcus da Silva, the leader in the all-time Arka scorers’ classification. Therefore, it seemed quite possible that a historic change could take place on this day.
In the opening minutes of the match, the visitors decided to boldly attack. The leader in these attacks was primarily Cezary Demjanjuk, definitely the best and most effective player from Siedlce. However, several set pieces and attempted crosses into our penalty area did not bring any serious threat to the goal guarded by Weglarz.
The hosts showed how to use set pieces in the 10th minute of the game. Navarro took the corner kick from the left side perfectly – the strong ball was sent to the far post, where Dawid Gojny ran decisively and beat Pruchniewski with a header from close range! It was difficult to imagine a better opening of the match by the hosts.
Interestingly, the goal scored did not significantly change the face of this match. Pogoń still tried to play boldly, surprising Arka’s concentrated defenders with individual actions, or they hoped that one of them would make a mistake when sending crosses into the sixteen. However, nothing like this happened and the mistake happened to the visitors. In the 23rd minute, Navarro decided to shoot from a distance, which was blocked, but Pruchniewski did not reach the ball in the penalty area, which Szymon Sobczak took advantage of. The Gdynia striker, pressed by the defender, fell and kicked the ball towards the goal, which rolled into it and delighted the Gdynia stands!
In the 29th minute, Karol Czubak had his chance. After a pass from Oliveira, he tried to shoot with his left foot from a rather acute angle, but this time Pruchniewski was not surprised and stopped the shot. 10 minutes later, the visitors had probably the best opportunity to score a goal. Szuprytowski centered precisely from the right side, and Hermoso was overtaken by Demjanjuk and shot with a header, but over the crossbar.
In the final minutes of the first half, Oliveira and Gojny received applause. The latter fought ambitiously at the end line and managed to play into the penalty area, where Oliveira decisively ran in and, in a somewhat acrobatic way, fired a shot, although not particularly dangerous for Pruchniewski.
After the change of sides, the guests were the first to attack dangerously. Szuprytowski crossed the free kick, and Podliński showed cleverness in the penalty area, reaching for the ball with his foot, but luckily sent it straight at Węglarz. A few minutes later, Oliveira was close to taking advantage of an error made by Pogoń’s defenders, but the situation was saved by Pruchniewski’s long shot.
The second half did not provide many emotions because, satisfied with the two-goal lead, the Arkans did not break the pace and played their actions rather calmly. The guests tried helplessly to attack for quite a long time, but to no avail. In the 70th minute, Pik saved Pogoń from losing the third goal when, after confusion in their penalty area, Czubak took a shot and the Pogoń player kicked the ball off the goal line.
In the 72nd minute, the referee entered the game and assessed the collision of Hermoso and Demjanjuk’s heads in the Arka penalty area as an offense by the defender from Gdynia and pointed to lime. Podliński took the penalty kick and scored a goal for the Siedlce team with a sure shot.
The guests sensed their chance, but Arkowcy also tried to regain the two-goal lead. In the 77th minute we were close to it with a shot by Skora, but Kacper was successfully blocked. A few moments later, Navarro lacked accuracy when passing the ball into the penalty area, where both Sobczak and the aforementioned Skóra were waiting for it.
The final minutes were very tense, because the guests, who had nothing to lose, took more and more risks and tried to make life miserable for Gdynia’s defenders. Fortunately, they avoided simple mistakes and did not give an excuse to create dangerous situations in front of our goal, although in the added time it became very tense after Demjanjuk’s action. The Pogoń striker took a shot that was deflected by Węglarz, but Demjanjuk still played the ball in front of the goal, where Podliński, who was running, was stopped at the last moment.
Arka won for the sixth time in a row in the league and is getting closer to the leader Bruk-Bet Termalica, with whom it will face directly in the next round in Nieciecza. This victory, however, did not come easily, because although the Gdynia team quickly scored goals, they were unable to dot the i’s, which caused a bit of nervousness considering the rather accidental contact goal. Fortunately, everything turned out as expected and coach Grzegorczyk’s team can prepare to face the leading teams of the competition.
Arkadiusz Skubek
Arka Gdynia – Pogoń Siedlce
Goals
2
1
Shots
10
9
Accurate
6
4
Corner kicks
5
6
Foul
1713
Burnt
1
1
Ball possession
48%
52%
Yellow cards
2
1
Red cards
0
0
GALLERY NO. 1
GALLERY NO. 2
GALLERY NO. 3
Arka Gdynia Triumphs Over Pogoń Siedlce!
Arka Gdynia clinched an impressive 2-1 victory against the last-place team, Pogoń Siedlce, in a thrilling match that had fans on the edge of their seats! Goals from Gojny and Sobczak paved the way for the hosts, while Podliński managed to inject some hope into Pogoń’s hearts with a late penalty.
Match Overview
In a heated clash in the Betclic 1 league, Arka Gdynia not only scored three points but also showcased their prowess in front of 7,420 fans, eager to witness their team strive for those top league spots. The atmosphere was electrifying, especially with the match coinciding with a campaign against breast cancer, further adding to the support from the stands.
First Half Highlights
The first half was undeniably dominated by the hosts. In the 10th minute, Arka’s Gojny smashed in a header from a corner kick, surprising not just the goalkeeper but also anyone who had Pogoń in their fantasy league. Then came a moment of “how did that happen?” when Sobczak found the net after a chaotic interaction in the penalty area.
However, don’t let the score fool you! Pogoń tried to channel their inner Rocky Balboa, attacking from the get-go. But despite numerous attempts, their shots were as off-target as a footballer aiming for the top shelf on a day when he forgot his glasses. They came close in the 29th minute with Demjanjuk almost scoring, but alas, another chance went begging.
The Second Half – Nerves of Steel
As the second half kicked off, you could feel the tension—like that moment when you realize you’ve run out of snacks while watching a thriller! Pogoń managed to pull one back with a penalty scored by Podliński, igniting a flicker of hope amongst their supporters. But the Arka team held tight, determined not to let their hard-earned victory slip away.
Final Moments and Post-Match Analysis
Despite Pogoń’s determined efforts to level the score, the Arka defense showcased their steeliness. Just imagine trying to break through a brick wall with a feather—Pogoń’s attempts resembled something like that for the rest of the match. With every whistle, Arka edged closer to their sixth consecutive victory, leaving fans breathless and wondering just how far this momentum can take them in the league.
What’s Next?
With this win, Arka is now right on the tail of the league leaders, gearing up for their next challenge against Bruk-Bet Termalica. It’s going to be a battle of titans, folks. Will they continue their surge, or will the top team put the breaks on their joyride? Mark your calendars!
Key Match Stats:
- Goals: Gojny (10′), Sobczak (23′) – Podliński (73′ pen)
- Shots: Arka 10, Pogoń 9
- Yellow Cards: Arka 2, Pogoń 1
- Ball Possession: Arka 48%, Pogoń 52%
Final Thoughts
In the end, it’s not just the points that matter but the sheer entertainment! Arka Gdynia showed resilience, creativity, and—let’s not forget—a touch of theatrical flair that kept their fans buzzing. With a mix of comedy and suspense, if there’s one thing we can all learn from this match, it’s that in football, as in life, anything can happen. Just be ready for a penalty kick or two!
Stay tuned for more updates on the next round of this captivating league!
