Recap
Expats Remain Winless
Another weekend and another fixture for the Dragoons. On this occasion the team travelled just outside of Krakow to Swoszowice on an unseasonably cold September afternoon.
Wholesale Changes
Quite a number of changes saw Marcin Obyrtacz come into the lineup for his league debut, replacing Gabi Muñoz. Edo Battaglion also started his first league game as Robert Ambrosie missed the game.
Further changes saw Piotr Hajnrych come in at left-back for Michał Nowak and Brian Lemmen come into defence replacing Simon Calabrese. Last weekend’s last gasp hero Ceri Looker came in for Josh Dawson, meaning the whole back 5 had changed.
Rob Smits also came into the line-up for Szymon Urzędowski and finally Rohit Chandran dropped to the bench as Joaquin Serrano returned to the side.
Kick Off
A rather quiet opening to the game saw the first shot arrive after four minutes. The hosts Leon Rybiński found space, but sent a long range effort miles over the crossbar.
Krakus continued to probe the Expats backline and won a free-kick on the corner of the box. A cross came into the Dragoons area and Brian Lemmen headed the ball over his own bar.
Lemmen again cleared away the following corner but the danger remained. A second cross came into the box and Maciej Gajda found himself unmarked, but could only send a headed effort into the arms of Obyrtacz.
With 8 minutes on the clock, the Dragoons created their first chance of the game. Barry Chowaniec backheeled the ball into the path of Flavio Nkola. The Angolan looked to be through in goal, however an excellent sliding tackle prevented a shooting chance.
The Expats began to find a little bit of rhythm in their forward play and created a further chance on 10 minutes. Rob Smits fed the ball to Forabosco, who in turn found Chowaniec. The Dragoons top-scorer tried a curling effort at goal, but did not trouble the target.
A moment later, Ceri Looker conceded a foul 30 metres from goal. Filip Byczewski smashed an effort towards goal, that Obyrtacz had to push firmly over the bar.
Dragoons Go Close
In the next attack, the Dragoons came close and should have gone into the lead. Serrano excellently found the run of Chowaniec. The striker showed electric acceleration to get beyond the Krakus defence and through on goal. Kacper Sajnóg sprinted off his line to close down the gap and Chowaniec could only smack his shot straight at the keeper, who clutched the ball at the second attempt.
Serrano Scores!
A swift and ruthless counter-attack saw the deadlock broken in the 16th minute. Flavio Nkola broke down the Expats left and came forward with purpose. He spotted the run of fellow attacker Serrano and played the ball into the feet of the Spanish sensation. The winger bore down on goal and calmly slotted the ball past Sajnóg to grab his first goal of the season.
Soon after, Serrano sent a beautiful pass forward for Smits to run onto. The Dutchmeester kept the ball in play and pulled it back to Flavio Nkola on the edge of the box. The winger attempted a shot at goal, but saw his effort blocked away.
Nkola again looked like he’d be given a free run on goal, but a great tackle from Byczewski halted the Angolan’s progress.
The Expats continued to come forward and Serrano sent another shot zipping across the wet turf. On this occasion, Sajnóg got down well to save the shot.
Down the other end, a nice threaded through ball saw Piotr Hajnrych get across well to block a shot on the Dragoons goal.
The home side came close to an equaliser in the 26th minute. Marcin Chwastowski hit a rasping drive that flew just past Obyrtacz’s post.
Nearly Two
On 28 minutes, the Expats came perilously close to extending their lead. A poor kick from the Krakus keeper went straight to Forabosco. The Italian tried to take on a man, but could not get past the defence. The ball went toward the back post and Sajnóg showed bravery to punch it ahead of Chowaniec. Nkola raced onto the loose ball and waltzed into the penalty area. He pulled the ball back to the waiting Forabosco, who took a touch and curled the ball onto the base of the post.
The visitors countered quickly and Battaglion put the ball behind for a corner. A quick set-piece routine saw the ball passed to Adrian Łukaszewski, but the Krakus man blazed his attempt wide.
A good attacking move saw Battaglion play a one-two with Forabosco and carry on his run down the right. The full-back whipped in a neat cross that proved just too high for Smits. The midfielder managed to get a touch to the ball, diverting into the path of Nkola. The Angolan attacked tried a spectacular volley, but proceeded to smash the ball high over the goal.
Forabosco sprayed a lovely pass for Nkola to run onto on 39 minutes. The attacker sprinted past the hosts backline and passed to Smits. The Dutchman could not put the ball towards goal and just evaded Chowaniec at the far post.
Lead Almost Thrown Away
The final chance of the half fell to Krakus and it should have been an equaliser.
Obyrtacz threw the ball to Battaglion, which horribly bounced off of the turf to a home attacker. A cross came into the box and the following shot inside the box went flying over the bar.
The Dragoons went into the break a goal ahead in an even contest so far. Both sides had their chances, but Serrano’s strike made the difference.
Second Half
Into the second half, the first chance came for the Expats. Hajnrych sent a quick throw to release Smits down the left. The midfield metronome crossed and picked out Forabosco. The Italian sent a shot at goal, but saw the effort blocked for a corner.
The following corner came into the box, but the Dragoons could not direct the ball goalwards.
Into the 50th minute the hosts came close to an equaliser. Krakus got beyond Hajnrych and crossed into the box. Brian Lemmen got a touch to the ball to take it away from an attacker and Battaglion cleared out of play.
The hosts continued their attack and Obyrtacz came to the Dragoons rescue denying a Krakus shot at goal.
Another Chance Spurned
A huge chance came for the Expats way with 56 minutes played. Serrano exquisitely found the finely-timed run of Smits. Again Sajnóg raced off his line to close the gap and the usually composed Smits saw his attempt to lift the ball over the keeper read well and the chance passed.
Smits found himself in the thick of the action moments after, receiving a quickly taken free-kick from Szczesnowicz. The Dutchman crossed towards Chowaniec, but rather than head towards goal, the striker tried to touch the ball to Forabosco, unwittingly clearing away the danger.
Krakus Equalise
After another blocked shot, the home side went on the attack and grabbed an equaliser.
The hosts worked the ball down the Dragoons left and crossed into the box. Looker attempted to flick the ball away, which went straight to Patryk Miczek at the far post. The Krakus man made no mistake in turning the ball beyond Obyrtacz and into the net for 1-1.
Serrano attempted to put the Expats into the lead straight after the goal. Lemmen picked out the Spaniard out wide with a cross-field pass. Serrano cut inside onto his favourite left foot and sent a strong effort from range that Sajnóg read well to save.
Dragoons captain Mark Szczesnowicz had put in an all action display as usual. The Australian showed good determination to break forward out of midfield and on the attack. With the defenders parting in front of him, the midfielder tried an effort at goal. Unfortunately for the Expats, his firm drive went straight at the home keeper.
Moments after the Dragoons conceded a foul from shooting range. The hosts free-kick smashed against the wall and the follow up drive smacked against Battaglion and flew over the bar.
End to End!
A rapid counter-attack from the Expats saw Chowaniec come forward with Serrano to his right and Nkola to his left. The Polish attacker attempted to thread the ball to Serrano, but saw his pass blocked to stop a 3 on 2 move.
Krakus had a good chance to go ahead in the 69th minute. Brian Lemmen attempted to play a pass to Hajnrych, but hit the ball straight to Chwastowski. The Krakus captain had a great chance to score, but could only shot over the bar.
An end to end game saw Nkola pick out Serrano. The Spaniard saw his attempted cross blocked and Krakus went straight on the offensive. Olaf Zdeb attempted a shot at goal, but drove into the arms of Obyrtacz in the Dragoons goal.
Expats substitute Rohit Chandran tried the next attempt at goal. The Indian whirlwind cut in onto his right foot, but smacked the ball wide of the target.
Penalty Dragoons!
A minute later, Flavio Nkola raced onto a long pass and saw Sajnóg wipe the forward out into the box. At first, the referee pointed for a free-kick but after discussing the foul with the linesman, rightly gave the Dragoons a penalty.
Following a long period of deliberation Enrico Forabosco stepped up to take the spot-kick. The Italian magician ran up and smacked an unstoppable shot past Sajnóg and into the top corner of the goal.
Admin has finally thawed out after standing in the cold for 90 minutes! Our man for the big moments @danis039 was on cue to capture @EnricoForabosco‘s penalty #golazo https://t.co/VMB2nBVE4e pic.twitter.com/I95SHfnGQ6
— Krakow Dragoons FC (@DragoonsFc) September 18, 2022
The opposition looked fired up as the game entered the final ten minutes. A series of niggly fouls saw the home side have free-kicks in shooting positions, but the Dragoons repelled the danger on each occasion.
Sloppy Dragoons Concede Late
With five minutes left to play, the Expats once again conceded a sloppy goal. A long-ball came into the Dragoons box and Lemmen inadvertently played it straight to Zdeb. The Krakus man had the whole goal to aim for and slotted the ball into the net to equal the game for a second time.
As the game entered the final minute, the referee indicated 6 minutes of injury time.
The Dragoons flew forward and Święcicki broke through the midfield and passed to Forabosco. The midfielder entered the box on the right side, but did not connect well with the shot and sent the ball over.
A foul on Nkola saw Forabosco have another chance to shoot from a free-kick. The Italian curled at goal and Sajnóg failed to keep hold of the shot, with the ball going for a corner.
Our man with the cam @danis039 captured @EnricoForabosco‘s free-kick at the death too! Close but no cigar. https://t.co/oyWSKZmx3F pic.twitter.com/MKv2LUEZ0g
— Krakow Dragoons FC (@DragoonsFc) September 18, 2022
Almost The Winner!
Forabosco curled into the box and found the head of Looker. The big Englishman could not repeat his last-minute heroics this week, sending the ball wide.
The final whistle sounded shortly afterwards and once again the Expats have let a lead slip late on.
Sadly, the Dragoons remain winless as they drew for the third time this season. Costly errors or their own doing seem to be a continuous problem for the side. In attack the Expats are creating plenty of chances, but are not taking them often enough.
The Dragoons again played nice football against Krakus, but they need to be more ruthless. Despite the draw, the Expats move up one place to 10th.
Next Up
Next out sees Bratniak visit the Dragoons on Sunday. Our next opponents are in 9th position and have one victory and three defeats to their name. They suffered a heavy 1-7 defeat at home to Wanda Krakow this weekend with their sole victory coming on opening day against Strzelcy Krakow. The Expats played Bratniak on their debut season in B Klasa, losing 2-1 at the ground which is now the Dragoons new home.
