The opening match of the 2025/2026 season did not go Lechia Gdańsk’s way, as the White and Greens were defeated 1:2 by Górnik Zabrze. Lechia’s only goal came in the 88th minute, when Rifet Kapić converted a penalty awarded by the referee.
The match started rather calmly, with both teams seemingly testing each other’s capabilities. The first attempt came from Ivan Zhelizko, though his shot failed to hit the target. Górnik then looked to exploit the flanks, but Lechia’s defenders were alert.
In the 27th minute, Patrik Hellebrand tried his luck from distance, followed by a shot from Tomasz Wójtowicz three minutes later — but Górnik’s goalkeeper dealt with it easily. In the 32nd minute, the hosts went up 1–0 thanks to Kamil Lukoszek, who found the net in a goalmouth scramble and beat Bohdan Sarnavskyi. Górnik looked to double their lead soon after, but to no avail.
Backed by a roaring home crowd and the momentum from their goal, Górnik pressed hard before the break. Just before halftime, Taofeek Ismaheel had a one-on-one chance but failed to score. The match’s next goals would have to wait until the second half.
One goal each after the break
Lechia made one substitution at halftime, with Anton Tsarenko replacing Bohdan Viunnyk. After enduring ten minutes of pressure from Górnik, Lechia sparked into life and created two clear chances. First, Mena broke down the wing and forced a save — though his shot missed the target. Moments later, Bobček headed just wide from a corner.
Both teams continued to push forward. In the 58th minute, Paweł Olkowski fired wide for Górnik. In response, the duo of Wójtowicz and Tsarenko tried to take matters into their own hands. Wójtowicz delivered the pass, and Tsarenko, despite being in a tight spot, struck into the side netting.
What Lechia couldn’t capitalize on, Górnik did. In the 68th minute, Jarosław Kubicki doubled the hosts’ lead, making it 2:0. Coach John Carver responded quickly with several substitutions to try and turn the tide. Still, it was Górnik who kept attacking — though their shots either missed the goal or hit the side netting. Lechia, however, refused to give up. In the 87th minute, Mena earned a penalty, which Kapić converted to pull one back. Despite their efforts to find an equalizer, no more goals were scored.
Górnik Zabrze – Lechia Gdańsk 2:1 (1:0)
1:0 Lukoszek 32’
2:0 Kubicki 68’
2:1 Kapić 88’ (k.)
Górnik Zabrze: Łubik – Olkowski, Janicki, Josema, Janza – Young-jun (46′ Ambros), Hellebrand (90+4′ Szcześniak), Kubicki – Ismaheel (90+2′ Dzięgielewski), Lukoszek (78’ Podolski), Tsirigotis (78′ Liseth)
Lechia Gdańsk: Sarnavskyi – Januzems, Pllana (89′ Sezonienko), Olsson (71′ Diachuk), Vojtko – Mena, Kapić, Zhelizko, Wójtowicz (71′ Neugebauer) – Viunnyk (46′ Tsarenko), Bobček (71’ Kurminowski)
