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Udinese-Lech Poznan 2-1. End Of The Line.

February 27th, 2009 | By: tomasz | 14 Comments »

All good things must come to an end. Lech Poznan ended their Uefa Cup adventure with a 1-2 loss against Udinese. Lech managed to play on equal terms against the Serie A club only in the first half. An unexpected crisis came in the second when the Italians deservedly scored two goals and ended Lech’s dreams of European recognition.

Udinese-Lech 2:1 (Pepe 56′, Di Natale 90′- Rengifo 11′)
Lech: Turina – Wojtkowiak (85. Kikut), Bosacki, Arboleda, Djurdjevic – Bandrowski, Murawski, Injac (70. Wilk) – Stilic, Lewandowski – Rengifo

It was a strange game, I can’t remember when I last saw two such completely different halves played by a Polish team. Lech started the game in a fantastic fashion. They surprised Udinese with a positive approach and an attacking style of play. They had a number of chances, mainly from corners and free kicks. Lech’s courage was rewarded with a goal in the 13th minute. A genius-like no look pass by Semir Stilic found Hernan Rengifo, who knew what to do with the ball in the penalty box. After scoring Lech dropped back a little, but was still threatening in counter attacks. The game was even, with the Poznan team often managing to keep possession for long spells. Udinese had their chances, mainly as a result of Di Natale’s great play on the left wing. The Italian international taught Grzegorz Wojtkowiak a tough lesson in international football. Still, it can’t be said that Lech was an inferior team to the Italians. They kept looking energetic, their movement was good; Lech’s chances of going through looked perfectly realistic.

I don’t know how to explain what happened in the second half. Did Lech fail physically or mentally? Only the players know that. Needless to say, it was all Udinese in the second half. Lech stopped playing with their heads up, they just kicked the ball as far away from their penalty box as possible. They lost their tactical awareness, they stopped moving, individual players became scared of receiving the ball. Udinese had enough space for their offence to start working properly. The expected came in the 55th minute when Simone Pepe made use of Lech’s detrimental defending. Unfortunately, unlike in the previous games, Lech was unable to bounce back after losing a goal. I had an impression that they just didn’t have enough energy. As Andrzej Juskowiak put it in the transmission, the gaps between Lech’s formations were simply too big. It’s usually a result of the team’s declining fitness. Maybe the players finally started “feeling” the winter break? Lech tried to turn the game around, they earned some corners and free kicks, but were unable to create a single clear chance. The second goal for Udinese was a result of Lech’s gung ho tactics and a stupid mistake from Marcin Kikut, who opted for a dribble when playing the role of the last defender.

So long Lech, it was a great adventure, a one that can be put on the same shelf with Wisla’s heroics in the 2002/03 season. The games against Grasshoppers, Austria, Nancy, Deportivo and Feyenoord will stick for a long time in Polish fans’ memory. The next step is to better them next season. Champions League perhaps? It’s hard to say, Lech’s future remains in doubt. It all depends on how many players they’ll be able to hold onto in the summer. I’m sure there’ll be interesting offers for Stilic, Rengifo, Arboleda, Murawski or Robert Lewandowski. It’s interesting now to see how Lech is going to deal with that. What do you think the future holds for Kolejorz?

udilech01 – udilech01

Full highlights here.

Tags: Group A, Lech, Poland, Rengifo, Stilic, Udinese

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Comments

By Tomek | February 27th, 2009 at 6:16 am

Robert Lewandowski will probably join the Eredevisie next year: I even heard talks about him on Dutch tv when Lech played. Where? My biggest guess would
be SV Heerenveen: They’re very good at picking random players from Holland or other random countries and then making them very good. For example: Sulejmani, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Danijel Pranjic, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Huntelaar, etc.

By MarcinO | February 27th, 2009 at 10:56 am

I guess we should be happy that Lech Poznan got this far. However, I can’t be totally satisfied because they really played well and did deserved to advance. All the players did gain some valuable experience, which will help raise their values on the transfer market. Looking back at Polish team of the past, I’m pretty sure that Lech Poznan will take the transfer money and it will go into the owner’s pocket so a repeat seems unlikely.

The way Lech Poznan lost was a little too perfect for the home side. Kikut should be investigated for corruption because that last play was criminal. Maybe he should find a new sport altogether.

By MarcinO | February 27th, 2009 at 11:18 am

@adas
I totally agree with what you posted yesterday. For us the strength of the national team is in direct correlation with the strength of the domestic league. Considering what Wichniarek has come out and said recently, I don’t believe that trusting other leagues to develop our talent is the way to go. A perfect example is Kuszczak, he is miles better than Foster but they play Foster because he is in line for England’s number one keeper spot. Other than Smolarek and Roger, can you name another player on our national team that is not a product of our domestic league? FIFA’s “6+5” will strengthen the domestic league dramatically.

The financial situation of the Ekstraklasa will improve after Euro2012. But first there are other things that need to be addressed. First of all, the hooligans. The PZPN and the Ekstraklasa should strive to make football matches a family affair that is affordable. Hooligans scare away sponsors and keeps normal fans away from the stadium. We need more kids at games. That is how you get more interest in football across the country. Second, I think Ruch Chozow is the only publicly traded company so far. We need groups of people coming together and putting their resources to better use.

By adas | February 27th, 2009 at 2:18 pm

Yeah, but also its important to keep the best players in the league. Like marcinO says, if the good play Lech showed is turned into a sale of players to pocket cash, then nothing was achieved by the team. If you can build on the success, so that Lech are perenially in the UEFA cup or the Champions League it would be better for the team and maybe the league. But if this is it, then its sad. I don’t think Lech had a real chance to win the cup, just put in some good performances and raise their level of notariety.

By Tomek | February 27th, 2009 at 9:20 pm

In terms of organization and marketing Lech has already surpassed the rest of the ekstraklasa. Domestically they will be a powerhouse for years to come. However, for Polish teams to be competitive in Europe on a regular basis we need to start seeing them drop 2-3 million Euro for a transfer. Or at least offer salaries which are comparable to Turkish, Greek, Ukrainian, or even Cypriot (!!!!) Leagues. All that of course leads back to what Marcin0 wrote. Making stadiums safe, attracting sponsors etc.

Just like after the Uefa Cup runs from Wisla or Groclin within 2 seasons the core of this team will be gone. In fact I still remember after Wisla’s campaign in 02/03 Uche and Kosowski were gone that summer. After almost eliminating one of the top Seria A sides in Uefa the next season they were easily handled by a average Anderlecht side in CL qualifying. I am afraid a similar fate awaits Lech. I read that Hamburg is ready to make an offer for Renfigo and Arboleda…

Nevertheless I have to say watching Lech in Uefa this season was a pleasure.

Posted from United States

By drewsky | February 28th, 2009 at 12:33 pm

Adamek vs Banks 8th round
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHAU9fJGwS8

Go Poland

Posted from United States

By paradowski | February 28th, 2009 at 11:18 pm

That’s too bad if Lech Poznan break-up. With Smuda talking about ‘dream jobs in Germany’, is losing its best really the only fate of this cool team. What a terrible shame — Lech is awesome, and too easy to get attached to! They have a growing fan base, the owners should not treat the fans, and their customers that way. They could build on the team and build a “ManU” of Poland. Other teams like Legia could benefit too if Lech continues to grow — with revenue (right?) and by trying to keep up and build their teams too. Warka should pay the money to build on a team that is not far from being a really great team! Just think if you could build on what you like about Lech — awesome right!

Please stay in Poland coach Smuda! Please talk with Artur Wichniarek about Germany – they will probably treat you like shit there too. Poles should stay and build their own great league — the
Great Ekstraklasa!!! They must have good scouts at Lech Poznan — build the league with Poles, the Balkans, and Central and South America; more players like Rengifo, Arboleda, and Stilic. Pay them to stay, most players would stay in Poland for equal or more money.

I would and want to pay for access to Polish football network(s). If anyone has any information on how I can get connected to Polish football networks in the U.S. or through the internet, Please let me know. I don’t want to pay for Sentanta, or Fox, or ESPN, because they almost never consider Polish football games.

Regarding Obraniak: after watching highlights, some of his shots reminded me of Podolski, but Obraniak shoots with more power and better ‘one-time’ control with right foot as well as left foot, (Podolski has to set it up for his left most of the time). Obraniak also reminds me of Barcelona’s/France’s Thierry Henry with the controlled power, full speed reads on the ball and an awesome header goal. In a recent post drewsky mentioned “What a shot for Lyon’s” vs Barcelona, and it was! Henry’s tie breaker was as good — i agree drewsky “soccer is the best sport by far”:
http://indonewyork.com/contents/Berita/Olahraga/sepakbola/highlights/ucl/ko-lyon-barca.html

By paradowski | February 28th, 2009 at 11:27 pm

^ I also wanted to mention “players like Roger Guerreiro” in 2nd paragraph about building-up the Ekstraklasa.

By paradowski | February 28th, 2009 at 11:39 pm

^ shoot – also, should be: Henry’s “goal to tie” (it wasn’t a tie breaker)

By Michal Z | March 1st, 2009 at 12:47 pm

Just finished watching Man U defeat Tottenham in the Carling Cup. Foster saved in penalties. Had a decent game. Throughout the whole thing he was talked up by the commentators, and of course, ended up the hero. Which leads me to believe that Kuszczak, if he actually wants to play first team football, should leave Man U in the summer. Unless he is content with the money, which we couldn’t fault him for. But i believe his chance to replace V D S has just disappeared.

By Michal Z | March 1st, 2009 at 2:05 pm

R. Lewandowski finally finds the net again!
GKS Belchatów 2 – 3 KKS Lech Poznan

By zaraza | March 1st, 2009 at 11:52 pm

I don’t think Kuszczak will leave. He seems to take a lot of pride in simply being at a big club, even if he never plays. Perhaps more importantly, he earns a lot of money, more than Boruc actually!

Janczyk played a grand total of five minutes this weekend… It appears moving to Lokeren was a huge mistake. From reading a couple articles on Google news, it appears they NEVER saw him as a regular starter but merely as a backup option for Maazou and some other guy. Totally lied when they told him he’d get regular playing time.

Piszczek appears to have recovered from his injury problems, he played in a reserve match for Hertha this weekend and scored a header. From what I’ve read, he seemed to be finally hitting his stride towards the end of last season, but a string of minor injuries at the beginning of this season and then the long lay-off totally destroyed the momentum he was building. It’ll be hard for him to win back his place.

Posted from Canada

By drewsky | March 4th, 2009 at 1:01 am

I hope its not true about Janczyk.I remember watching him vs England U21 Team in a 0-0 draw and thought he was the best player on the field.He also had scoring succes in the U20 world cup.It would be a shame for a kid with this much talent rot away.
Its good to hear R.Lewandowski has founf the back of the net again.
As Paradowski stated it would be a nice change to see consistent greatness from some Polish club.Maybe in the future as MarcinO said we can some form of commitment from league owners.
Hail again to Tomasz Adamek (a real class act)for defending his undisputed Cruiserweight crown.Here’s to future succes to Polish atheletics.
Go Poland

Posted from United States

By paradowski | March 5th, 2009 at 12:03 am

^ drewsky: thanks for the Adamek round 8 highlight! (wanted to say that earlier). From an athletic view — awesome!!! …great form; he took care of busy “like nobody’s busy”!!! Too bad any idiot can add their racist comments on YouTube (sure free speech and all). They (YouTube) control copyrights and other stuff, but not the idiot comments; maybe that’s okay — we don’t check YouTube for the comments — right! Thanks again!

Posted from United States

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