Recap
Total Dominance
On a balmy summer’s evening, the Dragoons delivered a footballing masterclass to dismantle Potok Więckowice 7-1 in an emphatic display at their new home in Ruczaj.
Hugo Cruz made three changes to the lineup, following the poor defeat against JKS Zelków the previous week.
Francesco Leuci and Flavio Nkola returned to the side at left back and left wing respectively as Barry Chowaniec and Salah Missi dropped to the bench.
Corneille Malonga missed the game, with Martin Voženílek coming into the team on the right wing. Szymon Urzędowski moved into the centre of midfield, with the utilityman having played in more positions than the Kama Sutra so far this season!
Kick Off
From the outset, the Dragoons wasted no time in asserting control. Within moments, Yuri Samyonov forced a mistake high up the pitch. Next, Enrico Forabosco tested the Potok keeper with a shot from range, immediately setting the tone for the rest of the match.
Early Lead
Soon after, the Dragoons’ persistent pressure paid off. After several close calls, they finally broke the deadlock in the 13th minute. Flavio Nkola had a shot saved, but the team quickly recycled possession. Moments later, Martin Voženílek found Rob Smits with a delightful pass across goal, who tapped home to make it 1-0.
🇳🇱🎥 He won the the Man of the Match 🏅now watch how our Dutchmeester Rob Smits 🇳🇱 stole the show with a hat-trick ⚽️⚽️⚽️#COYD💙🖤 pic.twitter.com/fgyjcstOK8
— Krakow Dragoons FC (@DragoonsFc) September 9, 2024
Double Dutch
With 25 minutes on the clock, the Dragoons kept up their momentum. Once again, Nkola delivered an excellent lofted pass over the top to release Forabosco. In acres of space, the midfield magician had just the keeper to beat but could only watch as his curling effort spanked the post. Thankfully, Samyonov let the ball run past him, and the ever-alert Smits smashed in the rebound, doubling the lead.
Robbie at the Double pic.twitter.com/moCrePpw6b
— Krakow Dragoons FC (@DragoonsFc) September 9, 2024
An unfortunate injury saw Flavio Nkola forced off injured on 36 minutes with Barry Chowaniec coming into the game. The Angolan’s direct running, pace and trickery had been vital in the Dragoons’ attacking armoury in the game up to that point. However, Chowaniec, with his blistering pace, offered a new threat and took up a central position with Yuri Samyonov moving to the left flank.
Dragoons Pegged Back
As the half wore on, the Expats took their foot off the gas and Potok eventually found a way back into the game. Just before the end of the half, a lapse in concentration saw the visitors pull a goal back in the 44th minute, capitalising on sloppy play from the Dragoons. A smart pass into space saw Zenon Remi take advantage to find himself on goal and slotted past Gabi Muñoz for 2-1.
GOLAZO
Undeterred, the Dragoons responded in style and wasted no time restoring their two-goal advantage. Just one minute later, Forabosco switched the play with an excellent clipped pass to Francesco Leuci on the left wing. The Italian full-back cut inside with time and space, arrowing a beautiful shot into the top corner, giving Grzegorz Jakubiszyn no chance.
💥BOOM💥
Rob Smits 🇳🇱 may have won the MOTM plaudits, but the goal of the game came from our left-back Francesco Leuci 🇮🇹 right on the stroke of half time to make it 3-1!
What an absolute banger 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/OxB7qGdJ3d
— Krakow Dragoons FC (@DragoonsFc) September 10, 2024
It had been a good half from Expats who quickly took control of the game, created multiple chances and should have been further ahead. The Dragoons could easily have lost their nerve following Potok’s goal but showed their mettle to score a third. The goal killed any momentum for the visitors and left them visibly deflated.
Second Half
As the second half kicked off, the Dragoons picked up right where they left off. Barry Chowaniec immediately became involved, starting the half on the left wing. In the early stages, he accelerated down the flank into the box, setting up Yuri Samyonov for an easy chance. However, shockingly, the Israeli somehow spooned his effort over the bar from close range. It looked harder to miss!
Forza Forabosco
Soon after, Chowaniec caused chaos again, winning a penalty in the 48th minute after being tripped in the box. Cool as ever, Forabosco calmly stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 4-1.
FROM THE SPOT 🎯
Enrico Forabosco 🇮🇹, calmness personified, tucks home a penalty kick to score the Dragoons’ 🐉 fourth goal just after half time 🎥
The strike confirmed the midfield magicians 🧙♂️ 43rd goal in 88 games! 👏 pic.twitter.com/WHtNmTkv6c
— Krakow Dragoons FC (@DragoonsFc) September 10, 2024
Drobny Powers Home the Fifth
Not long after, the goals continued to flow, and in the 55th minute, Kuba Drobny added the fifth. A perfectly delivered corner from Smits saw Drobny time his run to perfection and sent a downward header into the net. This goal epitomised the Dragoons’ dominance, stretching the game out of Potok’s reach.
⚽️ ⚽️ 🇵🇱 🇵🇱
Kuba Drobny 🇵🇱 timed his run to perfection to head home the Dragoons’ 🐉 fifth goal from Rob Smits’ 🇳🇱 corner 💪 pic.twitter.com/Kocjb7x7z2
— Krakow Dragoons FC (@DragoonsFc) September 10, 2024
Hat-Trick Hero
As the match progressed, the Dragoons showed no signs of slowing down. In the 70th minute, the dangerous Voženílek floated down the right wing and delivered a pinpoint cross, finding Smits completely unmarked in the box. With confidence, the Dutchmeester coolly tapped home to score the Dragoons’ sixth goal and completed his hat-trick.
Hat Trick hero 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/0H0mqwkzhJ
— Krakow Dragoons FC (@DragoonsFc) September 9, 2024
Potok Denied
Despite the scoreline, Potok had a rare opportunity to pull one back in the 74th minute. They looked certain to add a second goal as they exploited a momentary lapse in the Dragoons’ concentration. However, Muñoz stood strong, forcing Dominik Dąbek wide, with his resulting shot hitting the side netting via the leg of the Chilean stopper.
HE’S A KEEPER 🧤
Football isn’t just about goals!
Whilst Gabi Muñoz 🇨🇱 had a fairly quiet game on Sunday, he stood up strong when required to send an opponent wide and got a vital touch to send the ball wide
Good going Gabs 👊🤝 pic.twitter.com/J6bYn1fdij
— Krakow Dragoons FC (@DragoonsFc) September 10, 2024
Seventh Heaven
The final nail in Potok’s coffin came just before the final whistle. In the 90th minute, debutant substitute Gracjan Bałuch’s cross narrowly missed Smits but found Chowaniec at the far post. In a comical moment, the Polish forward performed a dragback reminiscent of Michael Flatley in Riverdance, before the ball bobbled off a defender and into the path of Çolakoğlu. The Turkish man-mountain calmly slotted home to complete the 7-1 rout.
SLAMMED HOME ⚽️
After Barry Chowaniec’s 🇵🇱 best River Dance impression, the ball fell kindly to Emre Çolakoğlu 🇹🇷 to apply the finishing touch to score his 3rd Dragoons goal and round off a 7-1 win for the team 🙌
Job. Well. Done. 🤜🤛 pic.twitter.com/DJnFhITlpZ
— Krakow Dragoons FC (@DragoonsFc) September 10, 2024
Post-Match Thoughts
All in all, it was a dominant performance by the Dragoons, who bounced back from a sloppy conceded goal to deliver a stellar attacking display. In truth, the Expats could have scored more, with Potok simply unable to match their pace and creativity.
Rob Smits, with his well-deserved hat-trick, will grab the headlines, but this was a team effort. The creative play of Forabosco, the ticking heartbeat in the middle, Nkola and Voženílek’s pace on the flanks, combined with a hardworking midfield display from Szymon Urzędowski, ensured the Dragoons were always in control.
The only disappointment was the sloppy play leading to the goal conceded and the first-half injury to Flavio Nkola.
Coaches Corner
After the game, Hugo Cruz summarised “The team had a consistent game, but I thought we started with a lack of composure in the first 20 minutes. I felt that made the team a bit nervous and inconsistent in possession. After the goal, we managed to get our confidence levels up and effectively controlled the game. When we keep the ball we grow in confidence. It allows us to dominate possession, which we should do more often when the fast transitions are not working.”.
Cruz added, “It was the first time playing at our new home, which takes a bit of adjusting and it was good to have a full squad for selection, with almost the whole team at the game. When it came to the team structure, you could see that the past few weeks of training in attack and defence paid dividends. We moved the ball quickly, looked for the switch and gradually found spaces to exploit and hurt them. I was pleased with the team that went onto the pitch, as they worked hard to erase last weekend’s poor performance and played more to the level that I expect. I still want more and feel we are capable of more! But overall, we need to keep this level of performance and we will get better week after week”.
Next Up
Looking ahead, the Dragoons face an away fixture against Iskra Radwanowice. Both teams come into the match with identical records, making it an interesting game.
Iskra is currently two places behind the Dragoons in 7th position and coincidently, their defeat came in their first game against JKS Zelków, who also beat the Expats.
The “czarno-białe” head into the game on the back of two wins in a row after comfortably dispatching Płomień Jerzmanowice 4-0 this weekend.
