Ekstraklasa Kicks Off: Matsenko Own Goal, Romanchuk Shines, Khlan Struggles

The opening round of the Polish Ekstraklasa was hardly a goal-fest - just 20 goals in nine matches, averaging 2.22 per game. That's well below the 2.74-2.75 average of the previous two seasons. No team managed more than two goals (Wisła Płock had a third chalked off by VAR against Raków), and no player scored a brace. There were two own goals, including Widzew striker Bergier who first put the ball in his own net and later converted a penalty at the other end. The only non-minimum victory came in the final match, where Zagłębie beat Piast 2-0. The score was 0-0 until the 72nd minute, then substitute Szypek scored and assisted after coming off the bench. Debutants Wieczysta Kraków - the 88th team in Ekstraklasa history - played their first top-flight match. The season's first goal came from their Swiss midfielder Roberto Alves. Among the three promoted sides, only Wisła Kraków started with a win; Śląsk and Wieczysta both lost. For Śląsk, Ukrainian defender Yehor Matsenko turned the ball into his own net in the 65th minute, cancelling his team's lead. The biggest surprise was Raków losing at home to Wisła Płock (1-2), thanks in part to a bizarre goalkeeping error. Lech Poznań's 0-0 draw with Cracovia was less shocking - they had thrashed Danish side AGF 4-1 in Champions League qualifying just two days earlier. Lech historically finds its rhythm once eliminated from Europe. Legia Warsaw snatched a dramatic 1-0 win in Szczecin: Croatian substitute Arsenić entered in the 88th minute and scored deep into stoppage time. With no European commitments, Marek Papszun's side looks like a genuine title contender. Now to the Ukrainian contingent. Maksym Khlan (Górnik) started on the left wing and earned ratings of 6.2-6.5. He took four shots - none on target - and failed with all three dribble attempts. He was subbed off in the 64th minute; Górnik equalized a minute later. Yehor Matsenko (Śląsk) played the full 90 at right center-back - ratings 5.2-6.0 - and his own goal cost his team the win. Vladyslav Kocherhin (Raków) started but was hooked at 56', recording one off-target shot and poor duel numbers. Taras Romanchuk (Jagiellonia) was outstanding in central midfield: ratings between 7.8 and 8.1, immense work rate, winning 5 of 7 ground duels and 6 of 7 aerial battles. Roman Yakuba (Zagłębie) remains injured and missed the squad; Maksym Tsymbaliuk, though fit, wasn't even in the matchday lineup. In the second tier, Lechia Gdańsk, now coached by Vladyslav Lupashko, lost 0-3 at home - only Ivan Zhelizko featured among Ukrainians, while Vyunnyk continues his recovery.