The Polish Cup Journey

Starting with Lechia - Round of 32 of the Polish Cup
Wisła Kraków defeated Lechia Gdańsk 2-1 after extra time in a thrilling Polish Cup match at the Reymonta Stadium. The home side took the lead in the 21st minute when Dawid Olejarka skillfully dribbled past a defender and fired a precise shot from distance, placing the ball perfectly by the post, leaving Lechia's young goalkeeper with no chance. In the second half, Lechia began to gain momentum, especially after making several substitutions. In stoppage time, referee Przybył awarded two penalties to Lechia for fouls in the box. Kamil Broda saved the first attempt by Luis Fernandez, but after a VAR review, Lechia was granted a second penalty due to a handball by a Wisła player. This time, Fernandez converted, sending the match into extra time in the 97th minute.

In extra time, the crucial moment came in the 105th minute when Ángel Baena pounced on a rebound after the Lechia goalkeeper’s save to slot home the decisive goal. Despite a few chances for the visitors, they couldn't find an equalizer. Their situation worsened when Maksym Khlan was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. Wisła advanced to the next round, with goalkeeper Kamil Broda standing out as one of the key contributors to the victory.

Clash with Polonia - Round of 16 of the Polish Cup
Wisła Kraków beat Polonia Warsaw 3-0 in their Polish Cup match on November 7 at the Reymonta Stadium. Although the home side dominated from the start, fans had to wait more than an hour for the first goal. A turning point came in the 35th minute when Jakub Piątek from Polonia received his second yellow card, leaving his team down to ten men for the rest of the match.

Despite having the advantage, Wisła struggled to break down Polonia's defence until the 68th minute, when Szymon Sobczak scored the opener after a VAR review confirmed the goal. The floodgates then opened, with Bartosz Jaroch netting in the 84th minute from a free-kick cross, and Ángel Rodado sealing the win in the 89th minute after a scramble in the box. Wisła had a chance for a fourth goal from the penalty spot, but Polonia goalkeeper Lemanowicz made the save. With a commanding win, Wisła progressed to the Round of 16.

Goal Fest against Stal - Round of 8 of the Polish Cup 
On December 7, Wisła Kraków triumphed over Stal Rzeszów 4-1 in the Polish Cup Round of 8 at the Reymonta Stadium. Wisła took an early lead, with Dawid Szot scoring in the 7th minute after a great pass from Goku. Despite some attempts from Stal, their lack of finishing in the first half prevented them from equalizing. Wisła dominated but only led 1-0 at halftime.

Early in the second half, Wisła delivered a double blow. Ángel Rodado headed in a goal in the 50th minute, and just two minutes later, Bartosz Talar extended the lead to 3-0. Stal responded with a goal by Szymon Kądziołka in the 66th minute, but Wisła quickly reestablished their dominance, with Patryk Gogół making it 4-1 a minute later, assisted by Rodado. With the match in full control, Wisła secured their place in the quarterfinals, where tougher Ekstraklasa teams awaited.

Thriller against Widzew - Quarterfinal of the Polish Cup 
On February 28, Wisła Kraków faced Widzew Łódź in the Polish Cup quarterfinals, delivering one of the most thrilling "friendship matches" at the Reymonta Stadium. Despite playing in a lower division, Wisła controlled the game from the outset, creating numerous chances. Despite dominating the first half, they couldn’t break through Widzew's defence, leaving the score at 0-0 at halftime.

After the break, Widzew found their rhythm. Thanks to tactical changes by coach Daniel Myśliwiec, they began taking control. In the 80th minute, Bartłomiej Pawłowski scored from the penalty spot to give Widzew a 1-0 lead. When it seemed like Wisła was on the brink of elimination, the Kraków side showed incredible resilience. In extra time, Widzew goalkeeper Rafał Gikiewicz made several key saves, but Ángel Rodado finally broke through, equalizing in the dying seconds and sending the match to extra time.

The pace slowed dramatically during extra time as both teams grew fatigued. Both sides sought a decisive goal, but Wisła had more left in the tank. In the 119th minute, Szymon Sobczak scored the winner, securing a dramatic victory for the home side and a place in the semifinals. Despite the intense battle, Wisła again demonstrated their tenacity, eliminating Widzew and continuing their Polish Cup adventure.

Battle Against Piast for a Place in the Final – Semifinal of the Polish Cup 
On April 3, in front of a packed crowd at the Henryk Reyman Stadium, Wisła Kraków defeated Piast Gliwice 2-1 in the Polish Cup semifinal, reaching the final for the first time in over a decade. Albert Rudé's squad started the game with great determination, scoring within the first minute. Szymon Sobczak headed the ball into the net 48 seconds after kickoff, sending the home fans into a frenzy.

In the 38th minute, Wisła doubled their lead when Jesus Alfaro received a cross from the right and finished with precision. After the break, Piast threw everything at Wisła to claw their way back. In the 54th minute, Ariel Mosór headed in a goal from a corner, bringing Piast back into the match. Both teams had chances, but the score remained 2-1. Wisła held on to their lead and booked their place in the Polish Cup final, where they would fight for their fifth trophy in history.

The Final Against Pogoń – Polish Cup Final
On May 2, at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Wisła Kraków wrote a new chapter in their history. In a thrilling final, they defeated Pogoń Szczecin 2-1, lifting the Polish Cup for the fifth time in their history.

Both teams battled intensely from the opening whistle, with both sets of wingers particularly active. Wisła nearly took the lead in the 41st minute when Szymon Sobczak’s header was miraculously saved by Cojocaru just inches from crossing the line.

After halftime, Pogoń took control, and in the 75th minute, Koulouris shocked Wisła with a goal following a quick throw-in. However, Wisła fought back until the very end. In stoppage time, in the 97th minute, Satrustegui headed home an equalizer after a cross, sending Wisła fans into raptures.

Extra time began perfectly for Wisła, with Ángel Rodado capitalizing on a defensive error in the 93rd minute to score in a one-on-one with Pogoń's goalkeeper. From that point, Wisła defended resolutely, fending off Pogoń’s desperate attacks. In the end, Wisła held on for a 2-1 victory, securing the Polish Cup for the first time in 21 years. This spectacular win etched their names into the history books once again.

The Cup is Ours  🏆