In the spring of 1985, Stal, with their junior Polish representatives, including Maciej Śliwowski, and Piotr Czachowski replacing him in the second half of the game, set themselves the goal of returning to the highest league in our country, after a two-year break. It intended to achieve it, under the coaching eye of Włodzimierz Gąsior, who was working with the first team in Mielec for the first time. After an unexpected 0-1 home defeat to Resovia in Mielec, our team was still leading in the league table with a lead of just one point over Krakow’s Hutnik. The locals, on the other hand, relegated from the elite, were the red lantern of the 2nd league with a loss of several points to the safe place. From the first whistle of the duel at ul. Kałuza, Stal created good opportunities to regain the trust of their fans. In the first half of the game, Stal created three excellent opportunities to score goals, but their strikers’ markers were off target (twice by Wnuk and Kołosowski). Cracovia tried to bite back, but the hosts were hampered, among others, twice by Brzeziński (who will work for Stali after many years, also as a coach for some time), and several times by Witold Pazdan, a well-disposed Witold Pazdan graduate.
In the second half, the strong sun had a negative impact on the Pasas‘ game. The score was opened by midfielder Roman Gruszecki, who, with a precise shot from a free kick from 18 metres, was able to find a hole in the opponent’s wall. Three minutes later, the Krakow defenders failed to show off as they failed to clear the ball out of their own area, which Andrzej Kołosowski took advantage of. Eleven minutes before the end of regular time, after Duchnowski played the ball with his hand (Graba’s action), the referee dictated an eleven for the opponent, which was converted into a contact goal by Damian Nurkowski. At the end of the season, Stal enjoyed the coveted promotion to the Premier League, while the Cracovians were relegated to League 3. We had to wait until the 2020/21 season for the next league match (in the 1996/97 second division season Cracovia won twice against Stal by walkover) between these teams!
12.05.1985 – Krakow, 24th round of 2. liga, Cracovia – Stal Mielec 1-2 (0-0)
Referee: Kostrzewski (Bydgoszcz) Spectators: 1,500
Cracovia: Niessner – Tyrka, K.Baliga, Cendrowicz, Zawadziński, Osoba (72 Cisowski), Graba, Marek Podsiadło, Nurkowski, Brzeziński, Cyzio (58 Karbowiak) Coach: H.Stroniarz
Stal: Pazdan – Porębny, Duchnowski, Bedryj, Tyburski, Barnak, Wnuk (72 Dąbrowski), Gruszecki, Śliwowski (66 Czachowski), Lizończyk, Kołosowski Coach: W.Gąsior
Goals: Nurkowski 79 (penalty) – Gruszecki 51 (free), Kołosowski 54 min.
Steel’s league balances against the Stripes at the two highest levels of the competition look as follows: in the premier league the two teams faced each other 13 times (4 wins for Stali, 6 draws, 3 defeats; goals: 19-18), in the 2nd league they competed 18 times (6 wins for Stali, 4 draws, 8 defeats, goals: 22-24). There was only one confrontation in the Polish Cup (1 defeat, goals: 1-3).
Leszek Śledziona
