Recap
The Dragoons Held Again
The Dragoons closed out the first half of the season with a hard-fought draw against Bieżanowianka Kraków on a chilly Saturday afternoon.
🔵⚫ 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐗𝐈 ⚫🔵
The Dragoons are set for the final battle before the winter break! 👊
Here’s how we line up against Bieżanowianka Kraków 👇
🧤 GK: 🇵🇱
🛡 DEF: 🇵🇱 | 🇦🇷 | 🇮🇹 | 🇵🇱
⚙️ MID: 🇫🇮🇮🇹 | 🇪🇸 | 🇪🇸
⚔️ ATT: 🇨🇿 | 🇨🇴 | 🇨🇴#COYD 💙🖤 pic.twitter.com/tHKg7RXPNk— Krakow Dragoons FC (@DragoonsFc) November 8, 2025
Remarkably, Head Coach Gonçalo Ferreira named an unchanged starting eleven from the previous week’s match against Iskra Krzęcin. Unbelievably, a first for the season.
Kick Off
The match kicked off with both sides feeling each other out, and Bieżanowianka had the first shot of the game with an early long-range effort in the 6th minute. Marcin Obyrtacz reacted sharply, pushing the ball behind for a corner. From the resulting delivery, the visitors won the ball in the air to head at goal, but Jan Krzyżanowski was perfectly placed to clear off the line.
Moments later, a defensive lapse gave the visitors a three-on-two break, and looked odds on to take the lead. However, Roman Bilovol recovered brilliantly to get back and intercept the cross. The ensuing corner was headed over, and the Dragoons survived another scare.
Dragoons Settle Into Their Rhythm
After a cautious opening, the Expats began to build momentum through tidy spells of possession. Eventually, the Dragoons had their first chance of the game in the 20th minute. Obed Sánchez combined neatly with Manuel Rangel, who had switched from the left wing to the right. Rangel shot well from range, but it was straight at the keeper who smothered the ball at the second attempt.
From a set piece minutes later, Enrico Forabosco tried his luck from a free-kick on the edge of the box. The midfield magician sent the ball over the wall but the effort was comfortably held by the Bieżanowianka stopper.
The Expats continued probing and Szymon Urzędowski was next to try and give the Dragoons the advantage. The full-back had a touch of fortune as an air-kick came back his way, allowing him to drive at goal. But like efforts before, the shot came straight at the keeper who made another comfortable save.
Rangel soon tested the goal again from distance, but once again the giant in the Bieżanowianka goal had a routine save. Moment’s after, Sánchez met Forabosco’s corner with a glancing header that narrowly missed the far post.
With five minutes of the half remaining, Urzędowski found himself in nose bleed territory once again inside the box. However, the ball was cleared in front of him to deny the Polish full-back the opportunity to put his side ahead.
The best chance of the half arrived just before the break when Sánchez and Rangel combined beautifully to unlock the back line. Sánchez’s strike was blocked on the line, and turned behind for a corner.
From the resulting set piece, the Dragoons twice thought they had stolen the lead. Sánchez saw his header blocked on the line and the rebound fell to Stiven Campo. The Colombian struck through a forest of bodies only to see another defensive block on the arm. The Expats claimed that the ball struck the arm of the defender, but the referee remained unmoved.
Bieżanowianka could have snatched the lead seconds before the break, as a lightning counter saw them break through in numbers. A shot from the edge of the box came at the Dragoons goal and there was a collective sigh of relief as the ball whistled inches from the post.
The Expats had started the half slowly, but had grown into the game and could count themselves fortunate not to have been in front.
Half Time
The Dragoons came out flying after the restart, and within two minutes, their persistence finally paid off.
Dragoons Lead
Voženílek burst forward down the right flank and delivered a perfect cross into the box. Rangel timed his run superbly and met the ball with a flying header that rocketed into the net. The Expats’ fans erupted, a deserved 1-0 lead at last and a cracking team goal to boot!
Bieżanowianka Hit Back
Unfortunately, the advantage didn’t last. Just before the hour mark, Yelysieiev, freshly introduced for Krzyżanowski, misplayed a pass straight into the path of a Bieżanowianka attacker. The visitors pounced immediately and slotted home the equaliser from the edge of the box.
A Quickfire Second
The Dragoons barely had time to regroup before disaster struck again. A second defensive error gifted possession to the opposition, and once more, the visitors made no mistake with a composed finish to turn the game on its head. In a whirlwind minute, the Dragoons found themselves trailing 2-1 despite having controlled much of the match.
Fighting Spirit Restored
The Expats refused to let their heads drop. Campo smashed a shot over from the edge of the box immediately after the goal, while Sánchez forced the keeper into another sharp save from a tight angle.
From the resulting corner, the ball fell to Yelysieiev, who looked to atone for the errors that lead to the visitors clawing themselves back into the game. However, the Ukrainian rushed his volleyed attempt and smashed the ball over the bar.
The Dragoons refused to give up and continued to look for an equalising goal and Campo had a fierce drive from ranged turned behind.
Ferreira rolled the dice again as Villa-Garcia replaced Campo, and in the 70th minute Barry Chowaniec entered to replace Rangel.
Instant Impact
Serhii Yelysieiev raced forward from right-back to get onto Jan Kołodziejski’s pass and swung in a dangerous low cross to the far post where Chowaniec had space to control. The substitute worked the ball onto his right foot and powered a shot that deflected off Sánchez before spinning into the net. The comeback was complete, 2-2 and everything to play for.
Moments later, Ureba García was forced off with cramp, with Adrian Paliś entering the fray for the final push.
A Frantic Flourish
The closing stages were tense, with both sides desperate for a winner. Sánchez went clean through on goal and looked like he would score but dragged his shot agonisingly wide of the post. It was a huge miss that left the Dragoons bench with heads in hands.
Bieżanowianka almost stole it late on, breaking in behind the defence, but Obyrtacz stood tall to deny them. Moments later, he produced another superb low save to keep the scores level.
At the other end, the Dragoons had the final effort in stoppage time. The Colombian had men either side, but in frustration showed greediness, blasting the ball miles over the target. With that, the referee brought an end to an exhausting contest.
For the second week running, the Expats had to settle for a draw, a result that typified their resilience but also their frustration. Despite leading and creating enough chances to win twice over, lapses in concentration saw them ruthlessly punished.
Still, the performance showed the determination and spirit that define the team and it’s growth under Ferreira’s leadership.
🇨🇿🏅 MAN OF THE MATCH 🏅🇨🇿
Martin Voženílek 🇨🇿takes the award after a tireless display against Bieżanowianka
Shifted to his unfavoured left, then back to the right to deliver the cross for Manu Rangel’s header.
Pure effort and quality! 👏
Výborně, Martine! 👊🤝💪#COYD💙🖤 pic.twitter.com/VNLgyYTUE8
— Krakow Dragoons FC (@DragoonsFc) November 10, 2025
Thank You, Dragoons Family
As the first half of the season closes, everyone at Kraków Dragoons wishes to thank our incredible supporters. Your energy, encouragement, and unwavering loyalty mean the world to us.
We’ll regroup, recharge, and return stronger after the winter break.
