Recap
Winless Run Rolls On
Another week, another four goals conceded. The Dragoons’ slide continued with a third straight heavy defeat, this time to ten-man Dąbski Kraków.
Head Coach Gonçalo Ferreira made several changes following last week’s poor outing against Trzebol Wielkie Drogi.
⚔️ LINE-UP ⚔️
After back-to-back defeats, this is the XI Gonçalo Ferreira 🇵🇹 is counting on to get the Dragoons back to winning ways!
🧤 🇨🇱
🛡️ 🇮🇹 | 🇵🇱 | 🇮🇹 | 🇦🇷
⚙️ 🇨🇩 | 🇳🇱 | 🇪🇸
⚔️ 🇨🇿 | 🇮🇱 | 🇵🇱#COYD💙🖤 pic.twitter.com/OCG0UpccJA— Krakow Dragoons FC (@DragoonsFc) October 11, 2025
The Expats entered the match hoping to stop the rot, but instead stumbled headfirst into another nightmare afternoon.
Gabi Muñoz started once again between the posts, behind a back four of Francesco Leuci, Simon Calabrese, Kuba Drobny, and Roman Bilovol. Bilovol returned to the side in place of Szymon Urzędowski, who dropped to the bench.
In midfield, Corneille Malonga was the only survivor from the Trzebol match. He was joined by Fernando Gámez, back in the XI for Brian Lemmen, while Rob Smits replaced Jan Krzyżanowski.
Up front, Yuri Samyonov started centrally for Vałdzis Fuhaš, flanked by Barry Chowaniec on the right and Martin Voženílek on the left, with Jan Kołodziejski and Serhii Yelysieiev both missing out.
It was also a special, albeit sad, occasion for Francesco Leuci, making his final appearance after deciding to end his playing days following his 50th appearance for the club last weekend.
🇮🇹⚽ MILESTONE ⚽🇮🇹
From Rome to Kraków! Francesco Leuci 🇮🇹 hits 50 matches in Dragoons colours.
Tough in the tackle, tireless down the flank, and always all heart 💙🖤
📊
⏱ 50 matches
⚽️ 3 goals
🎯 2 assists
🟨 12 yellows
🟥 3 reds#COYD💙🖤 pic.twitter.com/QHkeQng9au— Krakow Dragoons FC (@DragoonsFc) October 9, 2025
Kick Off
The Dragoons started brightly and forced an early corner. Smits saw the ball returned to him, and his second attempt at whipping a cross into the box found Barry Chowaniec. The Pole poked towards goal but couldn’t get enough on the ball to seriously trouble the keeper.
On 16 minutes, Dąbski called Gabi Muñoz into action for the first time. A long-range effort forced the Chilean stopper to punch the ball away, and the Expats cleared the danger.
The game continued end-to-end, with both sides creating chances. However, in the 22nd minute, the Expats passed up a golden opportunity. Malonga sent Chowaniec scampering down the right flank, with the attacker pulling the ball back to find Smits unmarked inside the area. Unfortunately, the Dutchman leaned back too far and blasted his shot high over the bar.
Dąbski Lead
Moments later, Dąbski showed how it should be done. A quick counter saw a ball played over the top behind the defence, finding Eryk Sikora free inside the box on the left side. The winger showed excellent composure, slotting a low effort into the net via the post to give the hosts a 1–0 lead.
The Expats tried to respond, but old problems reappeared. Balls over the top bypassed the Expats’ midfield, and the Dragoons struggled to trouble a disciplined back line. At times, it seemed the Expats were operating as two separate units, attackers and defenders, rather than a cohesive team.
Neither side created any further chances of note, and the Dragoons went into the break a goal down, displaying little cohesion going back or forward!
Half Time
The Expats started the second half on the front foot. Their first real move saw Gámez strike at goal, but it failed to trouble the keeper.
Dąbski Double
In the 53rd minute, Dąbski doubled their lead as it all unravelled for the Expats. The Dragoons found themselves too high up the pitch, leaving huge gaps. A simple ball down the right exposed the defence, and a pass across the edge box allowed Sikora to slot home past Muñoz. The home side’s appeals for offside were ignored, highlighting a catastrophic lack of positioning, communication, and defensive understanding.
Visitors Down to Ten
On 57 minutes, the visitors were reduced to ten men after Tomasz Makowski received a second yellow for a poor challenge on Chowaniec. You’d think this would help the Expats with 30 minutes still to play, right?
The Expats battled back, showing some signs of recovery. Gámez nearly hauled them back into the game in the 63rd minute, going for a precise placement inside the box, only to strike the post. From the rebound, Martin Voženílek put the ball back into the danger zone, and Yuri Samyonov turned it in—but the flag was up, denying the Dragoons a way back.
Straight after, Enrico Forabsoco entered alongside Vałdzis Fuhaš and Gracjan Bałuch as Smits, Samyonov and Leuci all departed.
Unfortunately, the midfield magician failed to make any sort of impact as the visitors sat deep showing the Expats how to defend. Time and time again the Dragoons failed to break down the ten men and it would soon come back to haunt them.
As the home side threw everything forward, exploitable gaps became evident in the back line. A warning came as a cross into the box which saw Bilovol inexplicably leave it, with Muñoz having to show sharp reflexed to deny a shock third goal.
The Ten-Men Score
The ten-men of the visitors began to grown in confidence as the Expats wilted. Somehow, the Dragoons found themselves outnumbered in the middle and a defence splitting pass caught the defence flat-footed. A neat through ball allowed Karol Sikora in behind the defence and he calmy slid the ball under the beleaguered Muñoz as the Dragoons conceded to go 3-0 behind.
Amazingly, despite having fewer men, Dąbski grew in confidence while the Expats capitulated. A fourth goal followed when Krzysztof Wojniak struck a thunderbolt from distance that flew past Muñoz into the net. Three games, twelve goals conceded. You couldn’t script it worse.
The Expats rallied late, but failed to create any serious opportunities. Szymon Urzędowski forced a save in the final minute, but that was scant consolation.
No Bite, No Bark
While the 4–1 loss to Trzebol had featured four spectacular strikes, this defeat was just painful and disjointed. The Expats offered no protection to their back line. Right now, the jokes are writing themselves, and it’s the Dragoons who keep playing the punchline. Dąbski, second bottom before kick-off and with only twelve goals in eight games, somehow managed to resemble a better cohesive unit even playing 30 minutes with ten men. They showed far more discipline, heart and desire. They played basic football, but ultimately deserved the points.
The Dragoons, meanwhile, looked like they’d all met in the car park before kick-off. There was no midfield shape, no leadership, no communication, and no urgency to track back. The defence was left to fend for itself, as no one worked hard to get back and help out.
In truth, the hosts didn’t play terribly and in parts dominated the ball, but they just didn’t do anything to really trouble the opposition. Unfortunately, it was another harsh lesson for Gonçalo Ferreira, who will have learned even more about his new side in this game.
🇮🇹 🎖 MAN OF THE MATCH 🎖 🇮🇹
In a game where little went right, Simon Calabrese 🇮🇹 was a rare bright spot for the Dragoons 🐉
A difficult afternoon, but Simon gets the award for his contribution to the team.
Bravo, Simon!💪👏👊#COYD💙🖤 pic.twitter.com/Hg09o5pIkd
— Krakow Dragoons FC (@DragoonsFc) October 13, 2025
Next Up
The Expats don’t have long to lick their wounds. A rescheduled fixture against Tramwaj II awaits on Tuesday night, with a much needed performance needed to boost morale.
It’s time to get back to basics, show some fight, and stop giving away goals like favours and get back marching up that table.
