Ekstraklasa Kick-off: Matsenko's own goal, Romanchuk's class, and Khlan's tough start
A review of the first round of the Polish league: low scoring, surprising results, and the performance of Ukrainian players.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public domain / Author: Kancelaria Premiera from Poland
The Polish Ekstraklasa has officially kicked off the new season with a relatively quiet opening round. Across nine matches, only 20 goals were scored, falling well below the averages seen in previous years. No team managed more than two goals, and braces were notably absent.
The biggest surprise was Raków's home defeat to Wisła Płock. Meanwhile, Legia Warsaw secured a hard-fought victory against Pogoń thanks to a late goal by Arsenić in stoppage time, reinforcing their ambitions under manager Marek Papszun.
For the Ukrainian contingent, the season opener was mixed. Maksym Khlan started for Śląsk but struggled to make an impact, with the team conceding immediately after he was substituted. Yehor Matsenko played the full match but suffered a costly own goal in the draw against Górnik.
Conversely, Jagiellonia captain Taras Romanchuk delivered a standout performance, proving to be one of the best players on the pitch thanks to his dominance in the defensive midfield. Vladyslav Kochergin had a more difficult outing for Raków and was substituted early in the second half.
At Lechia Gdańsk, managed by Vladyslav Lupashko, the season began with a disappointing 3:0 home defeat. Ivan Zhelizko remains the only Ukrainian currently featuring for the team, while uncertainty surrounds the potential transfer of Bohdan Viunnyk due to Legia's financial constraints.