Cracovia waited only a year for another chance in the qualifying rounds of the European cups. These have a short and painful tradition at the Puddle. So far, Pasom has not even managed to win a match in the Europa League qualifiers. In the 2016/2017 season, the team from Krakow lost 1: 4 on aggregate to Macedonian Shkendija Tetowo. Three years later, the Pasy was drawn to the DAC Dunajska Streda from Slovakia. The players from across the southern border tied in Krakow 2: 2, 1: 1 at home and thanks to a greater number of goals scored away, the Slovaks advanced to the second round. A year later, Cracovia again joined the fight for promotion to the Europa League and this time it finished even earlier than usual, because after one match.
Belts were not lucky in the draw. The Malmoe team is the current leader of the Swedish league. Cracovia’s opponents are clearly leading the league and heading for the title. – The rival is a very experienced team that prefers physical football. He is very strong. Swedish teams often rely on English football. From the moment we drew Malmoe, we watched the opponent, our coach was here for one game. Our analysts in Sweden and the scouts also followed the rival’s meetings. We have assessed and analyzed all Malmoe matches – said the coach of the Polish Cup winners, Michał Prociąg, before the match. His team was an equal rival for the Swedes on Thursday for the entire 22 seconds. After that time, the Belts were already losing. Failed to break the unattacked defender of Cracovia gave Malmoe out. The restart of the game was simultaneously a square pass to Soren Rieks. The midfielder ran to the end line and crossed into the penalty area. Jo Inge Berget lurked there, deceiving one of the defenders and defeating Lukas Hrosso.
Cracovia players had an uphill slope from the very beginning. That could have changed in 19 minutes when David Jablonsky hit Malmoe’s goal after a free-kick. However, the referee saw offside and did not recognize the goal. The visitors tried to equalize for a long time, but Florian Loshaj and Marcos Alvarez’s shots were inaccurate. The players of John Dahl Tomasson also pushed forward. The team led by the former Milan player raised their lead just before the break. Quick and consistent action was enough to make Cracovia’s defense completely lost. Rieks hit Hrosso’s goal after Issac Thelin’s pass.
Michał Prukaj had something to talk about with his players during the break. However, they did not come out changed into the second half. The picture of the match did not change. It was the Swedes who led the game, they had the meeting under control, and Pasy tried to defeat Marko Johansson with jerky attacks. The Swede could not be defeated, but the Cracovia goalkeeper allowed the goal. In the 82nd minute Hrosso let himself be beaten again, but luckily Malmoe’s player was offside.
Five matches, three defeats, two draws, no promotions, goals 4: 9 – this is the record of Cracovia in the history of its starts in the Europa League qualifying rounds. The joy of Belts after winning the Polish Cup lasted much longer than their adventure in European cups.
1st round of the Europa League qualifying rounds 2020/2021
Malmoe FF – Cracovia 2:0
Goals: Berget 1, Rieks 44
Malmoe: Johansson – Larsson ż, Ahmedhodzić ż, Brorsson, Knudsen – Rakip (75 Traustason), Lewicki, Christiansen, Rieks – Berget (67 Sarr), Thelin. Coach: Tomasson.
Krakow: Hrosso – Rapa, Jablonsky, Helik, Siplak (58 Diego), Loshaj – Hanca ż, van Amersfoort, Alvarez (79 Vestenicky), Wdowiak – Rivaldinho (46 Dimun ż). Coach: Trial.
Judged: Schnyder (Switzerland).
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