Lech fails to beat Banik Ostrava

Initially, the friendly against Banik Ostrava was supposed to be the second of three planned pre-season games. Originally, Niels Frederiksen’s squad was meant to play one more training match next week. However, the date of the Polish Super Cup final has been confirmed, and on Sunday, at 6:00 PM, Lech will face Legia Warsaw at Bułgarska Street.

Unlike in the previous victorious friendly against Chrobry Głogów, coach Niels Frederiksen didn’t prepare two different line-ups for each half. After the second week of training at the Academy’s Research & Development Centre, his players were better prepared to play against the Czech rival for more than 45 minutes.

From the start, there was plenty of action on the Academy's main pitch. Bartosz Mrozek was tested early by two accurate shots. Soon after, Mikael Ishak set up Afonso Sousa with a pass, but the Portuguese, after dribbling past ex-Lech player Dominik Holec, hit the post. Within 60 seconds, Banik winger Ewerton capitalised on a turnover and scored a precise lob from about 55 meters out, putting the guests up by one goal.

Banik held onto the lead for 15 minutes before the Polish Champions responded with a well-executed offensive attempt. Michał Gurgul started the play with a deep pass, and Sousa made a run into open space. The Portuguese’s shot toward the empty net was blocked by a Czech defender, but Ishak was in the right place at the right time, and he tapped the ball into the net. The equaliser gave Lech a burst of fresh energy, and they ended up creating a few more scoring chances thanks to through-balls from Filip Jagiełło and Gísli Þórðarson. Lech’s Swedish captain remained active in attack, but finished the first half with just one goal. Banik, however, regained the lead before the break, capitalising on a scramble after a set piece, with Erik Prekop scoring from a close distance.

After halftime, both teams slowed their pace slightly, leading to a less intense second half. Starting the half were Robert Gumny, Bryan Fiabema, and Alex Douglas, replacing Kornel Lisman, Ishak, and Mateusz Skrzypczak, respectively. Just after the hour mark, Lech made seven more changes, bringing on Bartosz Salamon, Eryk Śledziński, Elias Andersson, Patryk Prajsnar, Sammy Dudek, Tymoteusz Gmur, and Bartłomiej Barański.

Lech had a chance to equalise after Sammy Dudek won the ball in the opponent’s half. He quickly passed it to Fiabema, who could have passed to either of his three teammates who were close by, but opted to shoot; however, his effort was blocked by a defender. In the 77th minute, Dominik Holec had to intervene after Dudek found Robert Gumny with a good pass. The homegrown player, who had just returned to his home club, headed the ball, but Holec, a former Lech goalkeeper himself, saved his team from conceding a goal.

Thus, the Polish Champions ended their pre-season training camp at the Research & Development Centre with a loss against the Czech side. On Sunday at 6:00 PM, Niels Frederiksen's squad will test their form against Legia Warsaw in the Polish Super Cup final.

Lech Poznań – Banik Ostrava 1:2 (1:2)

Goals: Ishak (26’) – Ewerton (10’), Prekop (45’)

Lech Poznań - line-up:
Bartosz Mrozek – Joel Pereira (62’ Eryk Śledziński), Mateusz Skrzypczak (46’ Alex Douglas), Antonio Milić (62’ Bartosz Salamon), Michał Gurgul (62’ Elias Andersson) – Antoni Kozubal (62’ Patryk Prajsnar), Gísli Þórðarson (62’ Sammy Dudek) – Filip Jagiełło (62’ Tymoteusz Gmur), Afonso Sousa (62’ Bartłomiej Barański), Kornel Lisman (46’ Robert Gumny) – Mikael Ishak (46’ Bryan Fiabema)

Banik Ostrava - starting line-up:
Dominik Holec – Michal Frydrych, Matej Chalus, Karel Pojezný, David Buchta, Jiří Boula, Tomáš Rigo, Patrick Kpozo, Matej Šin, Ewerton, Erik Prekop