Siarka Tarnobrzeg - Lech Poznań 1:0

The Poznań side is currently in the middle of a demanding fixture run. Lech returned to action in the second weekend of October following a three-week international break and have since played five matches in domestic and European competitions. Frederiksen and his men have recorded three wins, one draw, and one defeat during that period. They first beat Śląsk Wrocław (4:1), then secured a convincing victory over Korona Kielce (6:1), before claiming all three points against Legia Warsaw (2:1). In between their league fixtures, Frederiksen's team has also played two Europa League league-phase matches, against Bayer Leverkusen (0:4) and Sunderland (1:1). Lech have one more PKO BP Ekstraklasa game to play this month: they will face Wisła Kraków on the final weekend of October. Before then, however, they were set to begin their Polish Cup campaign.

For much of the first half, Lech enjoyed the possession and looked for a way to beat the hosts’ defence. The guests created several dangerous scoring chances inside Siarka’s penalty area. Yannick Agnero, Terry Yegbe, Luis Palma, and Gustav Berggren all tried to break the deadlock, but the Poznań side lacked the luck and finishing touch to convert their chances. Just before halftime, Leo Bengtsson came close to scoring - the Swede met Luis Palma’s cross and produced a good header, but Siarka’s young goalkeeper intervened impressively. Moments later, before the players had even made their way to the dressing rooms, Lech’s Ivorian striker received a second yellow card and was sent off, leaving his team to continue with ten men. The hosts tried to exploit their numerical advantage. They managed a shot on target from a corner, but Mateusz Pruchniewski saved it.

After the 15-minute interval, both teams returned to the pitch to resume their battle for a place in the next round of the STS Polish Cup. The pattern of play in Tarnobrzeg changed after the break. Although Lech still enjoyed more possession, the home side grew increasingly courageous, pressing on the opponent’s defensive line with great determination. In the 64th minute, Siarka won a corner. The ball was delivered into the penalty area, where Arkadiusz Kasia rose to meet it and headed home, scoring what became the only goal of the match.

Lech continued to push forward in search of an equaliser. Patrik Wålemark tried his luck from distance, with Berggren following up on the rebound, but Pytlak dealt with both attempts. The Poznań side made its final two attempts in added time. First, Lech’s 25-year-old winger struck a powerful free-kick, but the ball hit the side netting. Then, following a corner, Pruchniewski came forward and joined the attack, but amid the confusion in the penalty area, the ball fell to Eryk Śledziński. The 18-year-old got his shot away, but Lech once again failed to find the net. The referee brought the match to an end, and Siarka Tarnobrzeg could celebrate advancing to the next stage of the competition.