Recap
The Streak Continues
A blustery Saturday morning saw the Dragoons take on Albertus Krakow on a carpet of a playing surface at Jana Pawła II 196. Albertus’ pitch had been ruined by wild boar last season, however they have done an excellent repair job.
The Dragoons started the game at lightning speed and took the lead as early as the second minute. Adrian Paliś read the line well and was picked out by a nice through-ball from Flavio Nkola to put him in on goal. Paliś slammed his shot against Marcin Obyrtacz, however the strength of the strike saw the ball loop up off the custodian and into the net.
Paliś could have had a second goal in the very next minute. The striker was picked out by a Michał Nowak long-throw, but put his first-time effort wide of the post.
Dawson at the Double
It was 2-0 for the Dragoons in only the 4th minute. Nowak, ever the danger with his lethal weapon, launched a throw into the box. The returning Josh Dawson rose highest and saw his header evade everyone and drop into the net. The goal saw Dawson grab his second strike in four appearances for the Expats so far this season.
The Lead is Halved
Albertus looked stunned but did manage to claw themselves back into the game in the 10th minute. Dawson was adjudged to have stepped on the heel of an attacker in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Szymon Urzędowski calmly took the kick and sent Muñoz the wrong way to score and make it to 2-1.
Paliś should have grabbed his second goal of the game after Jamie Beattie won possession and put the striker through on the right hand side. The marksman darted into the box and saw his shot saved with just Obyrtacz to beat.
A moment later in the 18th minute, another Nowak long-throw found the head of Alexey Zelenkin. The big Belarusian was unable to guide his effort on target however and the ball went wide.
Into the 20th minute, the wasteful Dragoons passed up another chance to extend their lead. Another long-throw into the box saw Rob Smits challenge for the ball. Following a kerfuffle for possession, the ball found Paliś, who hit a sweet effort across the face of the goal, but past the post.
Albertus had a chance of their own to equalise in the 27th minute from a free-kick within shooting range. Karol Kuraś stepped up to hit a wind-assisted swerving effort that sailed wide of Muñoz’s goal.
Chances, Chances, Chances
Jamie Beattie back in the side after injury, was at the heart of the action in the 31st minute. The forward poked the ball through for Flavio Nkola. The Angolan ran through on goal with Paliś at his side, but chose to shoot and saw his effort blocked by Obyrtacz. The ball spun into the air towards Paliś, however the striker could not hit the target from 18 metres sending his header wide of an unguarded net.
The home side did not have much of the ball in the first half, but did produce a chance in the 33rd minute. Adam Małasiewicz put the ball through two Dragoons players legs, before floating a cross-cum shot into the arms of Muñoz.
Nice play in the 33rd minute nearly produced a third goal for the Dragoons. Rob Smits put a nice pass to Paliś on the right flank. The attacker put a ball across the box, which saw a defender just get ahead of Nkola to put out for a corner. The following corner saw Dawson again rise highest, but unable to trouble the target.
The Dragoons came close once again, when Paliś’ ball into the box was cleared back to Dawson. The defender headed back across goal and the ball just evaded Nkola.
Into the last minute of the half, Paliś put a wonderful floated cross from deep into the box. Nkola found himself with an easy header to surely score, but did not get a good connection on the ball and put a gift-wrapped chance wide.
Second Half
The Dragoons came flying out of the traps straight away in the second half. Nkola burst down the left side and saw his cut-back nearly diverted into the net by an Albertus defender.
Lethal Weapon
In the 48th minute the Dragoons grabbed a third goal to increase their lead to 3-1. Michał Nowak’s long-throw again caused chaos in the box. The ball evaded everyone as it zoomed across the face of goal only for Adam Małasiewicz to inadvertently touch it into his own net.
With the third goal scored, the visitors looked to control possession of the ball. However, a horrendous defensive error from the Expats gave Albertus a chance back into the game. Bartłomiej Chowaniec found himself the grateful recipient of the ball and tucked his shot beyond Muñoz to reduce the arrears to 3-2.
In the 66th minute, further weak play at the back from the Dragoons saw an Albertus man fouled on the edge of the box. Thankfully for the Expats, Kuraś overhit the resulting free-kick miles over the bar.
Even More Chances
Four minutes later and substitute Rohit Chandran expertly found Nkola on the edge of the box. The Angolan bore down on goal, but struck a tame effort that Obyrtacz easily saved.
Good work from Dawson, saw the right-back release Nkola down the right. The winger played Paliś in to shoot, but yet again Obyrtacz denied the Dragoons a fourth goal.
In the 75th minute, Paliś showed good reactions once again to get to a Nowak long-throw first. Sadly, the striker got his shot all wrong and lifted his effort over the crossbar.
Yuri Samyonov entered the fray for the Dragoons, immediately getting involved in the action. A long-throw was recycled back into the box and the Israeli headed at goal, but the fist of Obyrtacz diverted the ball wide.
Fly Dubai with Chandran
Rohit Chandran finally wrapped up the game in style with 89 minutes on the clock. The tireless Josh Dawson burst forward and released substitute Martin Voženílek. The Czech’s sublime cross resulted in an even better finish! Time stood still as Chandran flew through the air spectacularly and acrobatically volleyed the ball into the net giving Obyrtacz no chance.
The final whistle sounded soon after and the Dragoons unbelievable winning run continues. The Expats have won all nine of their matches this season, but made hard work of their victory.
The Week Ahead
Next week will see perhaps the toughest test as the Expats face third placed Fairant at home. Fairant had been on a run of good form, but come into the game off the back of a 2-1 defeat against Pychowianka. The fan-owned club are eight points behind the Dragoons and will look to close the gap at the top.
The Dragoons have faced Fairant twice in the past and are a big part of our history, being the first ever side to officially compete against the club. Expats legend Dani Silva scored a hat-trick as the Dragoons pulled off a 6-0 upset to advance to the 2nd round of the Puchar Polski.
Fairant gained revenge on the Dragoons in the B Klasa league campaign, coming from behind to win 5-3 at Nadwiślan. The match will be remembered for Brian Lemmen’s wonderful strike just before half time, before a torrid 2nd half performance saw the visitors take all three points on their way to promotion in the COVID hit season of 2019/20.
