Recap
First Defeat
The Dragoons suffered a tough defeat in their first away match of the season, losing 3-2 to JKS Zelków despite leading at half-time.
In an otherwise unchanged team, Hugo Cruz made two changes to the side that comprehensively defeated Jastrzębiec 5-1 last weekend. Francesco Leuci dropped to the bench with Salah Missi taking his place at left back. With Flavio Nkola unavailable, Yuri Samyonov came into the team to start on the left wing.
A Flying Start, Literally
The Dragoons couldn’t have asked for a better start to the game. With just four minutes on the clock, a moment of sheer brilliance from Simon Calabrese gave the Expats an early lead. A short corner saw the ball at the feet of right-back Roman Bilovol. The Argentine swung a cross into the box, and Calabrese met it with an audacious flying scissors kick that flew into the net. An unbelievable hit and a second goal in consecutive games for the Italian defender!
🔥RETE SPETTACOLARE🔥
It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for!
Watch how Simon Calabrese 🇮🇹 scored the opening goal in style to put the Dragoons 🐉 into an early lead!#COYD💙🖤 pic.twitter.com/JYvog3nJVz
— Krakow Dragoons FC (@DragoonsFc) September 3, 2024
However, Zelków looked to respond immediately, and they nearly did! Kuba Drobny was the hero in the 11th minute, clearing a goal-bound effort in the six-yard box to keep the Dragoons ahead.
Equaliser
The pressure from the hosts continued, and the Dragoons struggled to find their rhythm in the middle. In the 26th minute, Zelków deservedly found the equaliser. The hosts sliced through the Expats’ defence too easily, and Gabriel Muñoz could do nothing as the ball was calmly slotted past the Chilean stopper by Jakub Kulig.
Dragoons Go Back Ahead
Despite being on the back foot, the Dragoons regained the lead against the run of play in the 33rd minute. Szymon Urzędowski did well to intercept a loose pass in midfield before threading it through to Barry Chowaniec. The striker showed great composure to shrug off a defender, round the goalkeeper and finish into an empty net.
🇵🇱⚽️MADE IN POLAND⚽️🇵🇱
Urzędowski 🇵🇱 + Chowaniec 🇵🇱 = 🥅⚽️
Barry Chowaniec 🇵🇱 grabbed his 3rd goal of the season as the Dragoons 🐉 led 2-1 at the break on Sunday.#COYD💙🖤 pic.twitter.com/cuGkjriQYn
— Krakow Dragoons FC (@DragoonsFc) September 3, 2024
Flag Saves The Expats
Zelków thought they had scored an equaliser with five minutes to play in the first half. A free-kick on the left flank came into the box and an opponent leapt highest to meet the ball. The incoming header from the back post flew across the goal and nestled into the net via the woodwork. However, the Dragoons saw their luck continue as a flag from the official on the sideline ruled out the goal.
It was a bit of a smash-and-grab, but the Dragoons weren’t complaining as they went into the break 2-1 up. The Expats had shown good spells at the start and towards the end of the half but had struggled to find their usual mojo.
Second Half
Into the second period, Zelków came out the blocks quickest and pegged the Dragoons back almost immediately.
Hosts Level it Up
With five minutes of the half played, the Expats conceded a free-kick 35 metres from goal. Piotr Marek stepped up and levelled the scores with a sublime effort that arrowed into the top corner, leaving Muñoz with no chance. Another outstanding goal that you could not help but applaud!
🏹ARROWED 🏹
Even though it was against us, we have to give credit where it’s due 👏
Piotr Marek scored a with a great free-kick bringing JKS Zelków back into the game at 2-2, leaving Dragoons HQ fairly impressed ⚽️🎯#Respect pic.twitter.com/k2dVaZhlBC
— Krakow Dragoons FC (@DragoonsFc) September 3, 2024
The game then became an end-to-end affair, with both sides creating chances. Corneille Malonga came close for the Dragoons in the 57th minute, his low shot forcing a fine save from Jakub Maciejaszek.
Almost immediately, the hosts went on the counter and hit the woodwork with a swerving strike from range, giving the Dragoons a massive warning sign.
Zelków Take The Lead
The Dragoons luck deserted them as Zelków went ahead on the hour with a goal tinged with fortune. Patryk Balawender’s rasping but speculative shot from distance took an awkward bobble off the turf in front of Muñoz and found the back of the net past the keeper’s outstretched hand. The Dragoons were now behind, and the game had swung in Zelków’s favour as they led for the first time.
Salah Missi and Rob Smits both had chances to draw the Dragoons level shortly after the goal but both failed to trouble the target.
Hosts Down to Ten Men
Zelków were reduced to ten men in the 65th minute, as Balawender received two yellow cards in quick succession. After committing several fouls in the first half, the striker picked up his first booking after hauling down Kuba Drobny from behind. Just seconds later, the striker received his marching orders after catching the foot of Muñoz with a late challenge as the keeper booted the ball upfield. The tackle sent the Chilean stopper flying and gave the referee little choice but to go to his back pocket to reduce the hosts to ten men.
However, the Dragoons failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage. Despite making several attacking changes, the Dragoons struggled to create any clear-cut chances to trouble the Zelków goal. The Expats huffed and puffed, but did not move the ball fast enough or with any conviction to break Zelków down.
The hosts professionally wound down the clock as the game neared its conclusion and frustrated the Dragoons at the same time. Despite being a man down, Zelków continued to look dangerous on the counter forcing the Expats backwards.
After a period of injury time passed, the referee blew his whistle to bring an end to the match. The Dragoons suffered their first defeat of the season but could have little to complain about after a stuttering performance.
Lessons to Be Learned
After such a promising start, the Dragoons will feel like they’ve thrown this one away. The team showed brief flashes of their usual possession play, but consistency over the 90 minutes was lacking.
The red card for the opposition should have allowed the Dragoons to press for an equaliser, but the final ball and composure in front of goal were missing. Several set pieces in the Expats’ favour saw the team fail to challenge for the ball aerially and allowed Zelków to go on the counter. Down the other end, the hosts looked dangerous on and gave the Expats some issues with balls into the box.
In the future, the team will need to up the tempo whilst in possession, plug the gaps between midfield and defence, and ensure that they maintain focus for the full 90 minutes.
The season is still young, and there’s plenty of time to bounce back, but the Dragoons will know they cannot afford to let leads slip as they did today.
Thoughts From The Coach
After the game, Dragoons Head Coach, Hugo Cruz reflected on his side’s performance and said: “It just was not our day. We started the game well but dropped our level of performance after the goal and never managed to make the opposition uncomfortable. Credit to Zelków, they did not have too many stand-out individuals but had a consistent team with two good strikers who put us under pressure. We never had the calmness to settle on the ball and play our usual game. We dropped our level and when we won the ball we rushed quick passes and lost possession too easily. Overall, I can see from training that the quality and the potential is there and next Sunday it will show”.
Next Up
The Dragoons will look to return to winning ways in their next match at their new home at Gronostajowa. Potok Więckowice will travel to face the Expats on Sunday and come into the game without tasting victory this campaign.
An opening-day home draw saw Potok take the lead against Płomień Jerzmanowice, however, the visitors pulled a late goal back to secure a point. This past weekend, a second consecutive home fixture saw Iskra Radwanowice take all three points with a 3-2 win.
Founded in 1998, Potok immediately returned to Klasa A last season, after suffering relegation in the 2022/23 season. It will be the first game between the two sides and hopefully, the Expats can bounce back with a win.
