Wisla Krakow 2-1: Poland a Bit Less Obscure

The greatest advantage Team Poland has going into this World Cup may very well be its relative obscurity. However, with the waves some of the potential roster are making, Poland assuredly will not remain the X-factor of Group A for long. Two weeks ago, it was Zbigniew Malkowski playing brilliant goal in Hibs 2-1 win over Celtic. This weekend, it was Radoslaw Sobolewski and Marcin Baszczyński blowing the Poles’ cover, accounting for two goals – both surprises – in Wisla Krakow’s 2-1 win over Pogoń Szczecin.

Both Sobolewski and Baszczyński are expected to be starters for the World Cup squad and, for all those keeping an eye on Poland’s premier league, demonstrated exactly why Saturday night. In a game featuring aggressive play from both sides early, it was Majdan who gave Pogoń its first scare of the game with a hard shot to test Brazilian import Neneca in the 12th minute. Strikes Brożek and Kryszałowicz harried Pogoń’s import further; it was Sobolewski, however, who broke through first in a meticulously executed sequence that began with Jakub Błaszczykowski’s picking off Ze Roberto. Błaszczykowski centered immediately from the back corner of the penalty area and Sobolewski headed it home past Nene.

After Cleisson equalized in the 40th minute, defenseman Baszczyński would silence the Pogońis for good in the 70th. At 65 minutes, Marek Penska entered the game as a midfielder. Five minutes later, quickly incorporated into ever-fiercer Krakow attack, he was fouled. To the surprise of all (or at least to astonished Polish sportswriters’), Baszczyński was called on to take the kick, which found the back of the net.

Not only was the match a nice show of force by a couple of Team Poland first-stringers, the win was a must-win for Krakow, bringing the squad to one point under Ekstraklasa table leader Ligia Warszawa.

Sobolewski and Baszczyński’s performance should give certain folks in Ecuador, Germany and Costa Rica a little kielbasa for thought as Team Poland molds into shape. Of no doubt is that Team Poland’s obscure status is a little less so now.

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Pogoń Szczecin – Wisła Kraków 1:2 (1:1)
0-1 Sobolewski 29’
1-1 Cleisson 40’ ,
1-2 Baszczyński 70’ – karny

Pogoń: Neneca; Valdir, Batata II, Ze Roberto (Matheus 69’), Lilo (Julcimar 65’); Amaral, Kaźmierczak, Cleisson, Daniel Cruz; Edi, Wagner (Junior 54’).

Wisła: Majdan; Baszczyński, Stolarczyk, Kłos, Dudka; Błaszczykowski (Penksa 65’), Varga (Burns 54’), Sobolewski, Zieńczuk; Paweł Brożek, Kryszałowicz (Kuźba 90’).

Żółte kartki: Daniel Cruz, Edi (Pogoń Szczecin) – Stolarczyk, Baszczyński, Kryszałowicz, Penksa (Wisła Kraków)
Czerwona kartka – Daniel 74’ – za druga żółtą
Sędzia: Mariusz Podgórski (Wrocław)
Widzów 15,000