Recap
Two in Two for Dragoons
After the Dragoons victory at home over Bronowicki, the Krakow Expats took to their travels to face OSS Opatkowianka on Sunday evening. This was the second away encounter against this side, with the Dragoons securing a comfortable 7-1 win in last season’s match.
The Dragoons started the game brightly and created a couple of early chances. Firstly, Enrico Forabosco played a delightful pass to release Emre Bezirkan in on goal. The stand in striker attempted to lob the Opatkowianka keeper Karol Darłak, however sent his effort miles over.
Joaquin Serrano making his first league appearance for the Expats had the second chance. The wing wizard received the ball from Krzysztof Musiał, but Darłak saved the Spaniard’s effort. The following corner saw Zelenkin react quickest to the loose ball and volley back at goal only to see a defender head the ball off the line.
In the 13th minute, the Dragoons widemen Serrano and Flavio Nkola caused havoc to the Opatkowianka backline. The home side cleared the ball out to Forabosco, who hit a shot from 35 metres that cannoned back off the crossbar.
No VAR needed!
The deadlock was finally broken in the 19th minute. Opatkowianka failed to clear their lines from a corner kick. Scott Halcrow hit the ball goalwards and a defender misjudged his clearance, hitting the ball in the air towards his own goal. The grateful Michał Nowak in an offside position, punished the error, gleefully volleying the ball into the net from 6 metres. The assistant referee flagged for offside, however, following discussions with the referee the goal was rightfully given.
Despite being the dominant side, the Dragoons nearly allowed Opatkowianka a way back in two minutes after scoring. Fortunately, a number of miskicks from the home team inside the Expats box went unpunished.
In the 26th minute, Flavio Nkola found himself in the book for catching an opponent late. Opatkowianka booted the ball forward and early substitute Damian Filuciak blasted a shot over the bar.
Chance After Chance
The Dragoons continued to dominate proceedings and an expert pass from Forabosco saw Nkola hit a fierce shot that Darłak pushed wide. The following corner saw Bezirkan rise highest but could not direct his header on target.
As the half wore on, the Dragoons continued to create chances. A nice flowing move involving Nowak, Bezirkan and Serrano, saw the latter bamboozle the defence and put the ball across goal, which just evaded the diving boot of Forabosco.
Moments later, a swift counter attack by Opatkowianka saw Adrian Stochel hit a low drive that required Muñoz to save.
The Dragoons doubled their lead on the stroke of half time with a lovely piece of football. Bezirkan expertly held the ball up and gave it to Serrano. The Spaniard played a one-two with Musiał and put a delightful low cross into the box. The loitering Forabosco couldn’t miss from and side footed home from close range to make it 2-0.
Second Half
Opatkowianka came straight out of the traps and Rafał Sowa hit a daisy cutter that Muñoz gathered easily.
Just a moment later in the 50th minute, the Dragoons grabbed their third goal in some style, following a foul on Nkola. Enrico Forabosco has a magic wand of a left foot. The classy midfield magician put on a show for the adoring fans with a free-kick from 35 metres. The Italian nonchalantly stepped up and curled a magnificent effort straight into the top corner. If Messi has scored such a goal, it would be talked about for months!
Flavio Nkola should have made it 4-0 in the 55th minute. The speedster latched onto a long pass and raced into the corner of the box. With just the stranded Darłak to beat, the Angolan leathered his effort straight over the bar.
Opatowianka toiled to get back into the game. A shot from range by Maciej Luty called Muñoz into action, with the keeper palming wide.
Another chance fell to Nkola in the 60th minute. Bezirkan met a Forabosco corner and the ball flew towards the far post. It looked like it should be an easy finish for Nkola to tap in, however a divot took the ball away from the Dragoons forward and the chance went begging.
Scintillating Serrano
It did not take long for the Dragoons fourth goal. A smart ball forward from Bezirkan set Serrano sprinting after it. Darłak comically left his box in a desperate attempt to deny the Dragoons wingman and found himself outsmarted by Serrano’s quick feet. The Spaniard rifled an effort from 18 metres past the man on the line and into the top corner for 4-0.
Four became five in the 75th minute. Nkola beat the offside flag to accelerate onto Halcrow’s beautifully lofted pass. The attacker teased Darłak out of his goal and unselfishly squared the ball to substitute Yuri Samyonov. The Israeli tapped the ball into the empty net to further increase the Dragoons tally.
Marching Orders
Ten minutes later, both sides were reduced to ten men following an altercation. Both Nkola and Kamil Doros for the home side received their second yellow cards from the referee – with Doros only receiving his first yellow card moments before his second.
Samyonov went close twice as the match drew towards a close. First with a shot off target before hitting the bar in the last minute of the match with a free-kick.
Deep into injury time and Opatkowianka grabbed a consolation goal. A hopeful ball forward saw Krzysztof Szewczyk expertly chest it down before sending an unstoppable drive past Muñoz.
The referee’s whistle ended the game seconds later with the Dragoons comfortable victors in their fourth official duel against Opatkowianka, now totalling 3 wins and 1 loss in favour of the Blues.
Victoria are the next opponents for the Expats at Nadwiślan and they will have to perform much better against the early league leaders, trying to repeat last season’s soaked and brave performance, which resulted in an important 4-2 win for the Blues away from home.
