Recap
Third Straight Defeat
A warm Sunday evening saw the Dragoons travel to Baranówka, to face 3rd placed Ekler.
Hugo Cruz made four changes to the side that fell to a 4-2 defeat against Michałowianka last weekend. With Marcin Obyrtacz unavailable, Italian keeper Lorenzo Bartolomei came into the side in the goalkeeping position.
One change in defence saw Simon Calabrese unable to play through injury, with Kuba Drobny restored to the starting line up. Drobny partnered Josh Dawson in central defence, with the Englishman taking the captain’s armband. Francesco Leuci and Piotr Hajnrych continued at right back and left back for a second consecutive week.
Into the midfield, Enrico Forabosco missed the game, meaning Omar Atzori started for the first time. He was partnered at the base of the midfield by Brian Lemmen, with Jan Krzyżanowski playing ahead of the double pivot.
Martin Voženílek came back into the attack with Rob Smits missing out after his nasty shoulder injury. The Czech started wide right with Vałdzis Fuhaš playing on the left and Barry Chowaniec continuing through the middle.
Kick Off
A quick tempo start by both sides made for a fairly entertaining start of the game.
NUTS
The very first shot of the game also yielded the first goal of the game for the hosts. With the Dragoons defending deep from a throw, a lack of pressure by the Expats saw Ekler punish them. A quick pass put Maciej Matławski through on goal and the midfielder rifled a shot through Bartolomei’s legs and into the net for a 7th minute lead.
Almost instantly, the Dragoons created their first chance and maybe should have perhaps equalised. Fuhaš did well to flick on a high ball into the path of Barry Chowaniec. The striker ran through on goal, but a touch too many allowed home goalkeeper Dawid Miazga to close the gap. Chowaniec pulled the trigger on a shot, but the keeper found himself well place to save with his legs and deny the chance.
With 10 minutes gone, Ekler broke through the Dragoons defence once again, looking to add a second goal. A pass came into the space in behind the Dragoons defence and a first-time shot followed. However, Bartolomei came to the rescue, chucking his bear-like hand to paw the attempt wide of the post.
Off The Woodwork
Ten minutes later, the Dragoons had a big let off as Ekler came even closer to a second goal. The hosts worked the ball down the Dragoons left flank and managed to pull a pass back off the by-line. The ball sat nicely for an unmarked forward, but the following shot crashed back into play off the crossbar.
Ekler continued to get forward to put the Dragoons under pressure and spurned another chance to double their lead on 26 minutes. A cross from the right hand side found the head of an attacker, but fortunately the ball dropped wide of the goal.
The Dragoons had struggled to make the ball stick in the Ekler half of the pitch. However, good work from Fuhaš saw the forward create a chance for himself. The attacker did well to keep possession and hit a low shot at goal from range, but sadly failed to trouble the target.
Not long after, the Dragoons had the ball in the net. Krzyżanowski played Chowaniec through and the forward put a pass across goal for Fuhaš to tap into the net. The goal would not stand, however, as Chowaniec couldn’t time his run, with the lineman raising his flag in the build-up.
Ekler Add A 2nd
Moments later in the 37th minute, the Dragoons conceded a second goal of the game. Good harrying by Krzyżanowski, saw the youngster rather unfairly adjudged to have fouled an opponent. Piotr Kurowski lined up the free-kick, some range from goal. The Ekler man went direct with a soft shot, which took a horrible divot and sped past Bartolomei to make it 2-0.
A 3rd Follows
The Dragoons heads went down as Ekler smelt blood and relentlessly pressed the Expats. A third goal arrived for the home side on 42 minutes as the Dragoons failed to clear their lines. The ball fell to Radosław Jarosz on the edge of the box, who slammed a vicious attempt past Bartolomei for a third goal.
On the stroke of half time, the Dragoons nearly found a route back into the game. A long pass from Drobny allowed Chowaniec to accelerate past the Ekler defence. The striker got beyond the backline, however, Miazga closed the distance well to deny the Dragoons man with a save. The Expats day was compounded as the rebounded bounced back off the Polish forward’s shin and out for a goal-kick.
The whistle sounded moments after with the Dragoons 3-0 behind and with it all to do. The Expats had struggled with possession in advanced areas and were constantly penned into their own half. Ekler had dominated the game and could have scored even more, as they deservedly led at the break!
Second Half
Hugo Cruz replaced Piotr Hajnrych with Roman Bilovol at half time with Francesco Leuci moving to left back.
The Expats started the half brightly after some strong words at the break. Cruz’s side won a couple of early corners, but could not get a telling touch to put the ball towards goal.
PENALTY EKLER
Despite the Dragoons’ bright start, it was Ekler who scored the next goal of the game from the penalty spot. A quick break saw the hosts behind the defence and Chowaniec attempted to press but clipped the heels of an opponent. Half time substitute Kacper Socha stepped up to the kick and sent Bartolomei the wrong way for 4-0.
Dragoons Pull One Back
On 58 minutes, a foul on Krzyżanowski gave the Expats a free-kick just inside the Ekler half. The following kick from Drobny landed perfected for the towering head of Josh Dawson. The Englishman connected nicely with the ball, sending it downward and beyond the dive of Miazga to give the Expats hope.
The goal seemed to boost the Dragoons as they came close to scoring an immediate second. A long throw into the box saw the ball headed only as far as Fuhaš on the penalty spot. The attacker volleyed at goal only for an excellent diving save by the Miazga to keep the ball out of the net.
Five For The Hosts
With 10 minutes left to play, Ekler scored a 5th goal against the run of play. As the Dragoons piled forward in search of a way back into the game, a long ball fell to the heavy-set Artur Równiatka. The Ekler man used his body well to shrug off the attentions of Michael Lamb and hit an early shot. The attacker caught the ball sweetly and Bartolomei could only watch on as it fizzed past him and into the net for 5-1.
Despite being behind, the Dragoons continued to try and find a way back into the game. A header from Dawson was pushed forward by Voženílek into the path of Yuri Samyonov. The Expats’ substitute dug the ball out of his feet well, to create a shooting chance for himself. The Israeli struck at goal, but a strong hand from Miazga kept the ball out of the net.
On 83 minutes, the Dragoons had the ball in the net only for another offside call to disallow it. Voženílek found space down the right and put a ball across the face of goal. Samyonov tucked it into the back of the net, however, a flag on the sideline ruled the goal out. On reflection, it looked a poor decision as Samyonov appeared to be behind the ball when it was crossed.
Consolation
Still the Dragoons continued to get forward and grabbed a second goal on 85 minutes. Samyonov found himself involved once again, delicately lifting the ball into the path of Chowaniec. On this occasion, the striker managed to round the advanced Miazga and rolled the ball into an empty net.
Third Straight Defeat Confirmed
The scoring would not end there as Ekler added a sixth goal to kill off the Dragoons once and for all. A corner for the hosts came into the Expats’ box and landed onto the head of Jakub Wierzbiński. A strong header gave the stranded Bartolomei no chance and brought the score to 6-2.
Shortly after, a sharp blast on the whistle ended the contest with the Expats falling to a third straight defeat. The second half showed a bit more fight and determination, however, Ekler easily won the game.
Next Up
It doesn’t get any easier for the Dragoons who have a rare Wednesday afternoon game in the coming week against Galicja Raciborowice.
Galicja occupy 4th spot and are on a strong run of form since the winter break, winning all 5 games. They currently have the joint highest amount of goals scored (77), with 11 wins, 1 draw and 6 losses this season so far.
In the reverse fixture, the Dragoons battled to a creditable 2-2 draw, twice coming from behind with Samyonov and Taye Johnson scoring.
