Sporting Braga-Lech Poznań 2:0. A Deserved End To A Beautiful Run.

February 25th, 2011 | by: tomasz |

rudnevs2 That’s all folks. Traditionally, Polish club teams can’t get through the first ’spring’ knock out round in the European competition. We can’t be too disappointed as Lech, overall, was a worse team than Braga and didn’t deserve to go through. The team lacked the dynamism and self belief that they had in the previous European games. They made a lot of stupid defensive errors and weren’t enough threatening when going forward. Finally, Jose Bakero didn’t help the team as his tactical plan proved completely useless.

Sporting Braga-Lech Poznań 2:0 (Alan 8′, Lima 35′)
Lech: Krzysztof Kotorowski – Hubert Wołąkiewicz (61′ Jacek Kiełb), Bartosz Bosacki, Manuel Arboleda, Seweryn Gancarczyk – Marcin Kikut, Dimitrije Injac (46′ Jakub Wilk), Ivan Djurdjević, Semir Stilić (71′ Vojo Ubiparip), Siarhiej Krivets – Artjoms Rudnevs

I don’t know what was Bakero thinking. He played Semir Stilić as a lone striker and made Artjoms Rudnevs torment himself and us on the left wing. This made no sense whatsoever; Rudnevs was not involved in the game and Stilić is just too slow to play in the upfront position. Consequently, Lech lost control of the match very quickly. They didn’t pose any danger when going forward as their wings at the moment are too poor to create goalscoring chances. I wrote about Rudnevs, but it also has to be said that Marcin Kikut isn’t even half the player Sławomir Peszko was on the right wing. Peszkin was bringing the right attitude, a pinch of unexpectedness and dynamism to Lech’s moves. Kikut doesn’t have the proper skills to take players on on the wing. He’s good enough to attack from deep as a right back, but you need a different set of attributes to play as a more offensive right winger. As a result of Bakero’s ideas, Lech played without the offensive line. To make matters worse, Injac didn’t resemble the ferocious midfielder he was before the injury and was the most inaccurate player on the field. It was a bad decision to play him so shortly after an injury. Furthermore, the defensive line played their worst game in the European competition. Normally, it’s very difficult to outrun Arboleda and Bosacki as they are among the fastest defenders in Poland. This time around, they were all over the place being ridiculed by Braga’s attackers time and time again. Bosacki made a horrible mistake that enabled Lima to score the second goal (possible offside) and Arboleda was being dribbled past more times yesterday than in the whole 2010. In such form he’s no answer to our national team defensive problems. I also can’t forget about Krzysztof Kotorowski who practically gave the first goal to Braga. He’s a type of keeper who can have great games, but every fifth or sixth game he makes a serious mistake. Unfortunately, this fifth game came yesterday.

Bakero changed the tactical plan in the second half (Wilk brought on for Injac), Lech looked better, but it still wasn’t enough to take control of the match. Braga wasn’t playing a great game, but their technical superiority was enough to keep Lech on their own half. Still, Kolejorz had some moments in the second half. Jacek Kiełb, though only half of his decisions were right, brought much of the needed liveliness to Lech’s game. He’s a much more confident player than Wilk or Ślusarski. Naturally, Rudnevs played much better as the lone striker. Nevertheless, it wasn’t like Lech dominated Braga and didn’t let them leave their own half. They were just slightly better. The last minute best chances (Rudnevs’ shot, Wilk hit the bar) were a result of the final gung ho attack, not of a masterclass tactical plan. This time lady luck didn’t smile to Lech. They just didn’t deserve to go through.

Thanks to Kolejorz for one of the most memorable cup runs in the recent Polish football history. The games against Juve and ManCity will remain unforgettable. Now it’s time to perform in the league so as not to spend next season’s European competition in front of the TV.

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Comments

By Radek | February 25th, 2011 at 10:36 am

I agree, Braga was the superior team yesterday, but Lech did have their chances late in the game, all they needed was 1 goal, unfortunately it did not materialize.

Posted from Canada

By bigcmos | February 26th, 2011 at 1:04 pm

I’m not a Lech fan I cheer for the Biala Gwiazda. But, for once I was cheering hard for Lech Poznan to do their best against top European teams. It was sad to see them defeated at the hands of this Portuguese side which on this day played a lot better than us.

As Tomasz pointed out, Bakeros’ tactics were very questionable when I saw the lineup I thought wow this is very defensive…but as we have seen in history you cannot sit back and then counter its too long of a game. As I watched the first couple of minutes I could already feel a goal coming and I did not want to say anything to jinx it but it happend and it was horrid.

I guess I’m very disappointed that we could not take advantage of a golden opportunity. Playing vs Pool would of been amazing to see, as I thought we matched up well against them.

Braga was the better team, and we could not even hold the ball for more than 10 seconds it was very sad to see, and I blame Bakero for fucking with the squad so much that they could not even organize themselves properly.

We know several things after this match;
1.Kotorowski is not high calibre he has a brilliant game here and there but most are pretty aweful. Tomasz it seems like its every 3 games he screws it…

2.No replacement for Peszko – this was huge they should of splashed some more money this position is still vacant.

3.Hubert not ready to start on the big stage and they need to find him a position fast.

Thats it for my ramble feels good to get it off my chest, lets hope for a nice Elekstraklasa round!

FORZA WISLA!

By paradowski | February 26th, 2011 at 2:51 pm

good comments, except for “jinx” thing. Sorry have to get that off my chest — The jinx thing is such non-sense but so popular. See, shouldn’t you have said something to jinx those early Braga goals away? Don’t worry, it wouldn’t have mattered. I guess we all just want to play a part. It is enough just be a fan.

Posted from United States

By JZ | February 26th, 2011 at 9:56 pm

I did not see the game only highlights but from what I saw Lech gave the game away vs Braga beating them.

The first goal was the goalies fault- very amatuerish, the second goal looked offside. If Lech scores a goal to make it 2:1 like Braga’s second goal Polish media would say it was offside & Lech cheated to get in the next round.

But the result is what it is and Lech should be very proud of their over-all performance in the EL.
It was fun to follow a Polish team this far into European competition.

I just hope Lech win the Puchar Polski (they are down 0:1 to Polonia after 1 game) so they can play in the EL next season. I think they are to far down in the standing to take 3rd place & qualify automatically.

By poonlicker | February 27th, 2011 at 11:58 am

WOAH GROsicki with the hat trick in turkey!

By JZ | February 27th, 2011 at 2:06 pm

Szczesny has a mix up with Koscielny & lets in a incredibly bad goal to lose the Carling Cup final 2:1

By marcin | February 27th, 2011 at 3:09 pm

Tomasz, I think you will have a busy write up this week end

By adas | February 27th, 2011 at 3:10 pm

I’m sorry, but in my opinion that was all Koscielny’s fault. Szczesny must have called him off. Even if he didn’t, Koscielny needs to kick that ball properly. Instead, he takes his eyes off of it and bobbles it off his leg/knee. Right into the path of the Birmingham player. Szczesny had that ball. there was no threat. Koscielny panicked.

By Radek | February 27th, 2011 at 5:22 pm

Blazej Augustyn got 2 yellow cards and was sent off against Genoa, anyone see what happened?

By MarcinO | February 27th, 2011 at 5:47 pm

Damn, Lech’s win was not convincing to say the least. They better kick it up a notch, and fast. They really are missing Peszko on the right. I’ve lost all hope in Jakub Wilk. Without trying to sound like a broken record but I think Lech would benefit by playing him at left back. He’s does not have an attacking mindset. His skills would make him an above average EK left back and solve Lech problems at that position.

I thought it was quite funny to see Bosacki scream a Kileb and Kielb having to leave the game because of a headache shortly after.

The Widzew fans were just an embarrassment with the flares. Shame on Lech for allowing such things to occur in their stadium. This needs to be addressed and corrected. The fine from UEFA should have opened some eyes.

By Aleks | February 27th, 2011 at 8:30 pm

Uh you know that Wilk had the two best chances and scored for Lech? I thought he had a decent game

By adas | February 27th, 2011 at 10:24 pm

Is anyone here familiar with the Turkish League? What style they play, etc? It seems some Polish players strive there. Could it be the style of play, or is it just the level of talent around them?

By Kuba m | February 27th, 2011 at 10:53 pm

Does anybody know if boenisch has recovered from injury yet? When could we expect him back in the nt

Posted from Australia

By paradowski | February 28th, 2011 at 12:08 am

Looks like he has begun training and negotiating new contract with Werder Bremen: http://gwizdek24.se.pl/pilka-nozna/bundesliga/boenisch-zacza-juz-trenowac_172358.html
I looked for updates a few weeks back and found this site was being constructed, but now running with posts: http://www.sebastianboenisch.de/

Posted from United States

By msudzi | February 28th, 2011 at 12:35 am

What does that say about the Ek when Grosicki scores 3 goals in one game, and a half year and just 3 goals , it says someting what I don’t know.

Posted from United States

By tomasz | February 28th, 2011 at 7:22 am

What a weekend!
I have a very busy schedule on Monday so I have to postpone Squad Watch till tomorrow. Thanks in advance for your patience.

By Kuba m | February 28th, 2011 at 7:48 am

Thanks for the info paradowski

Posted from Australia

By Timmy | February 28th, 2011 at 12:45 pm

Shame that lech lost but congrats for the entertainment and geting polish football on the european stage, it was a shame becuase had it not been for the bad luck and tactics of Bakero i think lech couldve won, hope lech or another polish team will be able to repeat or match what lech did next season.

I blame koscielny for the goal against arsenal, he should have cleared the ball and let Szczesny know that it was his ball to handle, wouldve ended arsenals trophy drought and it would bring renewed hope for the gunners and it had to happen in the 89th minute.

By Casimir | February 28th, 2011 at 3:14 pm

Koscielny should never have even touched that ball. If the keeper is rushing out and calls for it, its the keepers ball. Szczesny had the right of way and could see the entire field, so it was his ball to grab and Koscielny should have yielded.

I’m a gooner, but jeez.. typical typical Arsenal…

Comments are closed