Arka returns to Gdynia with one point after the match against GKS Tychy. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with both goals scored before the break. Jakub Budnicki opened the scoring with an impressive goal, and Karol Czubak equalized with a header.
16th round – Betclic 1 league
GKS: Łubik – Dijaković, Tecław, Budnicki, Keiblinger, Bieroński (70′ Żytek), Szpakowski (86′ Kurtaran), Ertlthaler (77′ Dziuba), Rumin (70′ Niewiarowski), Śączka (77′ Makowski), Kubik
Back: Węglarz – Navarro, Hermoso, Marcjanik, Gojny – Gaprindaszwili (72′ Ratajczyk), Borecki (62′ Sidibe), Zieliński (86′ Jakubczyk), Vitalucci (72′ Rzuchowski) – Sobczak (62′ Oliveira) – Czubak
In order to calmly get through the next international break, Arka wanted to bring back all the points from Tychy. Our team was the favorite, but the hosts, although they suffer from a points deficit, have recently had a better period – they are praised for their attitude, they are able to take the initiative and pose a threat in front of the opponent’s goal. Their biggest problem is still their effectiveness – in fifteen matches they scored only 7 goals, which is why they only took a point from Krakow.
The match against Wisła could certainly have strengthened the Tychy team, but Arka also entered the match in an excellent mood. A week ago, the yellow and blue team played a tactically excellent match against the dangerous Wisła Płock and honestly earned a 2-0 win. Hide Vitalucci took full advantage of the opportunity he received, recognized by the fans as the best player in the match, which he celebrated with an impressive long-range goal. It is therefore not surprising that in Tychy he also appeared in the starting lineup at the expense of Joao Oliveira. Coach Grzegorczyk struggled with the problem of how to replace Kocaba, who was suspended for his suspension – eventually he decided on Wojtek Zieliński, supported by Michał Borecki in the midfield. In attack, we saw the reliable duo of Sobczak and Czubak.
We started the match with a good move by Gaprindashvili on the right wing and the Georgian winning the duel on the edge of the penalty area, but the ball played in the middle of the sixteen did not reach any of the Gdynia players. A few moments later, when Tornike was centering with his left foot, the ball fell on Czubak’s head, but Karol’s shot did not turn into a successful shot.
In the 10th minute, Vitalucci showed up for the first time in this match. The Japanese took the ball on the left wing and ran almost to the end line, then fired a surprising shot from a zero angle and hit the post, which completely surprised GKS goalkeeper Marcel Łubik. However, if someone thinks that only Arka attacked in this match, nothing could be further from the truth. After a corner kick from the hosts from outside the penalty area, Szpakowski shot on target, but this did not surprise Węglarz. It was very dangerous in the 13th minute when, after an action from the right side of Tychy, the ball flew unpunished along the third meter in front of our goal, but there was no GKS player there to open the scoring.
In the 18th minute, the hosts took the lead. After playing from the right side, the ball went to Budnicki in front of our penalty area, who received it and decided to shoot. The ball bounced off Hermoso’s leg, which made it even more difficult for Węglarz to intervene, and as a result it fell into the net…
After a dozen or so minutes, Arka attacked in the 26th minute. First, Sobchak launched a counterattack and passed it sensitively to Gaprindashvili, but the Georgian’s shot was stopped by Łubik. A moment later, after a corner kick, Hermoso shot under the crossbar from 15 meters, but Łubik managed to deflect the ball.
Navarro’s next cross from the corner turned into an assist – the ball was sent straight to Karol Czubak’s head, and he did not waste the opportunity and equalized the match with a shot from the bottom corner of the goal! This is Karol’s tenth goal of the season, surpassing Rodado from Wisła Kraków and 62 for Arka – he is only one goal behind the leader Marcus da Silva!
In the 34th minute it could have been even better, because another set piece created an opportunity, this time for Sobczak, who immediately turned around with the ball at his feet, but the Tychy goalkeeper was on duty. In the 40th minute, the visitors were close to success again. In the GKS penalty area, Czubak controlled the ball and passed it to Vitalucci for a shot from 15 meters. The Japanese player was blocked, but when he made the correction the ball was already directed right at the post, which Łubik dealt with. However, Arka had a corner kick, and it could have been successful again, because Gojny’s cross once again reached Czubak’s head, but now the ball flew a few centimeters past the post.
Two minutes later, coach Skowronek’s players carried out a quick action and Rumin had a good chance to change the result of the match, but after entering the penalty area, Navarro’s sacrificial intervention prevented the home team’s attacker from taking a shot. So we went into the break with a draw on the scoreboard, but with a large handful of conclusions that need to be drawn before the change of sides, so that the Ark team can think about taking all the points out of Silesia.
We could have started the second half with a bang, because Gaprindashvili ran down the right wing, got into the penalty area and wanted to serve Czubak’s pass, but he lacked precision in this element. Szymon Sobczak will think about the 56th minute of this match for a long time, because it is difficult to understand how he did not score a goal then. Gaprindashvili again appeared on the right side of the penalty area and played along the second meter, where Sobczak ran in, but the defender pressing on him caused Szymon to miss the ball cleanly and it missed the goal!
After an hour of play, Sidibe and Oliveira appeared on the pitch and replaced Borecki and Sobczak. 10 minutes later, the coach made another double change, thanks to which Rzuchowski and Ratajczyk replaced Vitalucci and Gaprindashvili. In the 72nd minute, Tychy was able to take advantage of our players’ mistake and we owe it only to Węglarz’s long run that he did not take over Śączek’s ball, and then our goalkeeper quickly moved back to catch Szpakowski’s attempted lob.
In the 78th minute, Navarro took the ball perfectly and after a while he sent it into the penalty area, where Sidibe immediately hit it, but it hit… Oliveira, and this could have, and even should have been, the second goal for Arka. In the 80th minute, GKS should have scored a goal. However, we avoided this incident, because first Węglarz miraculously deflected Rumin’s shot from 12 meters, and Makowski’s follow-up miraculously flew over the crossbar!
At the end of the match, Navarro attempted a dangerous shot from a distance, but the ball narrowly missed the goal. A moment later, we launched a counterattack, in which Jakubczyk took a shot, but it was blocked by the defender. After the set piece, the hosts were in trouble, but the Arkowiec team failed to take a shot and it was the last chance for something to change in this match.
Arka really wanted to win in Tychy, but the hosts confirmed that the compliments they had received in recent weeks were not exaggerated. GKS set the bar high and today they failed to exceed it. Both teams had a chance to win, and in the end they could have tipped the scales to their side, but their effectiveness let them down. Therefore, all we can do is look to the future and prepare well for the clash with Stal Stalowa Wola in order to achieve full points again in Gdynia. Kocaba, who was missing in Tychy, will return to the squad, but this time it will be necessary to find a replacement for Hermoso, because he received his fourth yellow card in this match.
Arka Gdynia: The One-Point Wonder
Arka returns to Gdynia with one point after an exciting match against GKS Tychy. The game ended in a thrilling 1-1 draw, both teams showing flashes of brilliance before halftime. Jakub Budnicki took the spotlight with a standout goal, but Karol Czubak answered back with a header that sealed the draw—talk about turning the tide!
Match Overview
16th round – Betclic 1 League
Team Line-ups:
GKS: Łubik – Dijaković, Tecław, Budnicki, Keiblinger, Bieroński (70′ Żytek), Szpakowski (86′ Kurtaran), Ertlthaler (77′ Dziuba), Rumin (70′ Niewiarowski), Śączka (77′ Makowski), Kubik
Back: Węglarz – Navarro, Hermoso, Marcjanik, Gojny – Gaprindashvili (72′ Ratajczyk), Borecki (62′ Sidibe), Zieliński (86′ Jakubczyk), Vitalucci (72′ Rzuchowski) – Sobczak (62′ Oliveira) – Czubak
Match Insights
Negotiating through the treacherous waters of football, Arka Gdynia had one objective: to roll back into town with a bag full of points from Tychy. They were, after all, the favorites here! The hosts, while battling a disappointing points tally, had been infused with confidence lately, akin to a squirrel that finally nailed its first nut after a month of trying. They had the initiative, and you could see it. However, their biggest issue? Scoring, or more accurately, not scoring, with a paltry seven goals in fifteen matches! One point from Krakow was therefore hardly a cause for celebration—might as well have come back with an empty packet of crisps!
First Half Breakdown
Things kicked off with gaps in Gdynia’s midfield and GKS pressing with gusto. Although both teams had more than their fair share of attempts, it was the hosts who struck first. Budnicki, with the confidence of someone who’s just downed a double espresso, unleashed a shot that took a deflection—oh, the drama! And, frankly, the poor Węglarz in net looked like a cat that’s just seen the vet’s office.
Fast forward to Czubak. The hero of Arka stepped up like he was auditioning for the next big movie—spot on with that header! Now, that’s a striker who knows how to use his head—literally! And with that, we had a 1-1 scoreline that left fans cheering like they were at a rock concert, while secretly concerned about their teams’ lack of killer instinct.
Second Half Shenanigans
As the second half unfurled, it seemed Arka was determined to up the ante, brimming with enthusiasm as they pressed forward. One could almost hear the coach whispering “score or die trying!” Alas, the football Gods were sending mixed signals. An astonishing miss from Sobczak in the 56th minute had everyone scratching their heads—how does one miss an open goal? It’s like being the last one to the buffet and finding all the food gone. Disappointment reigns supreme!
Tychy had their moments too, almost snatching a victory out of nowhere. But it was Węglarz—our knight in shining… well, not so shiny, given the state of football gear—who delivered miraculous saves, proving that goalkeeping sometimes feels more like a superhero gig than a sport. The end of the match saw several chances wasted, leaving fans thinking they desperately needed a finishing school—“Gdynia Football Academy: We teach you how to shoot!”
Looking Ahead
As the dust settled and the players trudged back, it seemed clear that while Arka wanted all three points, GKS Tychy was not just another bump on the road—oh no, they were a real test! After putting on a solid show, both teams had to reckon with their inability to convert chances into goals. How do you celebrate this draw? Perhaps with a half-hearted high-five and another round of “what could’ve been.”
Now, as they prepare for the next clash with Stal Stalowa Wola, it’s time for Arka to regroup. Notably, Kocaba will be back, but let’s not forget Hermoso—he’s off somewhere counting his yellow cards like they’re trophies! With a spirit waiting to tickle the scoreboard, here’s hoping for a full three points next time—because let’s face it, one point is nice, but winning? Now that’s what it’s all about!
Stay tuned for more thrilling updates! Until then, keep those football spirits high and remember: even a draw can help you learn a thing or two—mostly that you need to practice your shooting skills!
Yone scratching their heads—how did that not find the back of the net? As Gaprindashvili floated a perfect setup into the box, Sobczak, in a moment of sheer misfortune, failed to connect and watched in disbelief as the ball rolled harmlessly away.
With the pressure mounting, substitutions were made, infusing fresh legs and new strategies onto the pitch. Yet, despite these tactical changes, the scoreboard remained stubbornly locked at 1-1. The lingering question frustrated both players and fans alike: could Arka convert their chances?
The tension was palpable as Tychy began to capitalize on Arka’s errors. Węglarz, our resilient keeper, emerged as a hero, executing desperate saves that kept the scoreline equal. In a critical moment, he thwarted a potentially decisive shot from Rumin, followed immediately by a reckless follow-up attempt that sailed far over the crossbar.
As the clock wound down, both sides pushed for the winner. Navarro’s danger-laced shot from distance whizzed past the post, and Arka’s quick counter had Jakubczyk taking a shot that met the same fate—blocked magnificently by the defense. Gdynia was left wondering if fortune would favor them before the final whistle.
a draw felt like both a win and a disappointment. Arka fought valiantly for every inch but couldn’t seize the game. GKS Tychy demonstrated their tenacity, proving that their recent good form was no fluke.
Next up, Arka Gdynia will have to focus on their upcoming clash against Stal Stalowa Wola, with hopes of converting chances into goals. They will welcome back Kocaba into the fold, but Hermoso’s absence due to a yellow card suspension will need to be addressed. The quest for improvement remains essential, and lessons from Tychy will surely influence their approach as they strive to reclaim their winning ways. Will they take three points next time, or will history repeat itself? Only time will tell!
