Friendly: Lech draw against Energie Cottbus

The Polish Champions’ last competitive fixture was played on September 20th, when they defeated Radomiak Radom 5:1. The international break was a week longer than in previous seasons, so the players who did not receive international call-ups were given a week off. They then returned to training under Niels Frederiksen.

The Saturday friendly against the German side Energie Cottbus brought the training cycle to an end. The 2. Bundesliga side has collected eight points in their six matches so far this season, leaving them sixth in the table. Lech's coaching staff decided that goalkeeper Mateusz Pruchniewski would play the full 90 minutes, so Mateusz Lis, who has started every competitive fixture for Lech this season, instead participated in a training session that morning. Meanwhile, Antonii Kozubal, Gustav Berggren, João Moutinho, and Allahyar Sayyadmanesh were unavailable for fitness reasons. However, several Academy players were included in Lech’s matchday squad: Eryk Śledziński, Antoni Klecha, Patryk Kowalski, and Maksymilian Dziuba.

The friendly game was an open contest from the very beginning, with both sides trading attacks. The guests struck first after winning possession in Lech’s half, taking the lead with an outstanding finish after just 51 seconds. Frederiksen’s men immediately set about responding, with Leo Bengtsson and Robert Gumny both causing problems to Energie's defence following passes from Filip Jagiełło. The equaliser came in the 10th minute, when Yannick Agnero latched onto Mikael Ishak’s pass into space. Lech's young striker made no mistake, rounding his opponent before producing a fine finish past the Energie goalkeeper.

The match continued at a high intensity, with plenty of action at both ends. Pruchniewski was forced to make a save with his feet following a close-range effort, while Agnero embarked on an individual run against three visiting defenders, but neither opportunity resulted in a goal. The score remained level at halftime, but shortly after the restart, the 2. Bundesliga newcomers regained the lead. Lech initially dealt with the danger following a quick counter-attack, but moments later, the ball found its way into the net after one of the German players finished with a backheel.

Pruchniewski could do little about either of the goals he conceded, and not long later, he made a crucial save - the guests' offensive effort ended with a close-range shot, but Lech's Academy graduate read the attacker’s intentions perfectly and made an excellent save. Just a few minutes later, the scoreboard showed a draw once again. Jagiełło initiated the best move of the match with a superb switch of play in the guests’ half. Gumny brought the ball under control before delivering an excellent cross, which Leo Bengtsson converted in one-on-one situation with the Energie goalkeeper.

15 minutes before final time, Frederiksen's side produced another great team effort. Agnero finished the move with a header, but the guests’ goalkeeper intervened well. Moments later, the young striker had the chance to complete his brace when he stepped up to take a penalty awarded for a foul on substitute Kamil Jakóbczyk. However, his effort struck the post. By this stage, all four of Lech’s youth Academy players mentioned earlier - Śledziński, Kowalski, Dziuba and Klecha - were on the pitch. There were no further goals, and the friendly ended in a 2:2 draw. Lech will return to competitive action in a week's time, when they travel to Wrocław to face Śląsk.

Lech Poznań - Energie Cottbus 2:2 (1:1)

Goals: Agnero (10.), Bengtsson (65.) - (1.), (50.)

Lech Poznań: Mateusz Pruchniewski – Robert Gumny, Mateusz Skrzypczak, Terry Yegbe, Joel Pereira (62. Patryk Kowalski) – Radosław Murawski (62. Maksymilian Dziuba), Pablo Rodríguez (62. Eryk Śledziński),, Mikael Ishak (46. Kamil Jakóbczyk) – Filip Jagiełło, Yannick Agnero, Leo Bengtsson (76. Antoni Klecha)