After defeat, three days earlier (03.09.1961) in Mielec, to Zabrze’s Górnik, who were full of national team players, 1-6, the mood in the team before the match against Lechia Gdańsk was not very cheerful. Mielec coach Henryk Skromny was consistent in his decisions, using the line-up from the second half of the aforementioned lost match in the starting eleven. From the first minutes of Wednesday’s match, striker Harężlak stood out in his actions, impressing with his inventiveness and flair for the game. Pytlos defended excellently on this day, while the interchange of positions between Gaj and Lupa brought calmness to the ranks of both the defence and the midfield of Steel.
The match itself began with the Steelmen attacking, but after only a few minutes, due to a heavy downpour, the referee ordered a break which lasted almost a quarter of an hour. Already in the 15th minute, Stal took the lead. An exchange of balls between Kapuściński and Ryszard Harężlak ended with the latter’s shot hitting the inside of the post, and then the ball bounced off the back of the lying visitors’ goalkeeper and into the net. Not nine minutes later it was 2-0, as the author of the first goal was fouled in the penalty area after a centre from Pyka’s wing. The successful enforcer of the penalty kick was Ryszard Kapuscinski. In the 30th minute, when the visitors dug in in front of their own penalty area, another goal for the Mielec players was scored by Henryk Czylok .
After the change of sides, our players continued to attack the rival’s goal, despite the fact that Harężlak, the best player of the game, had to leave the pitch at halftime due to injury, and was replaced by Tobollik. However, until the 69th minute it was impossible to increase the result, as it was the visitors who enjoyed an honourable goal two minutes earlier after a shot by right wing Zygmunt Gadecki. The fourth goal was scored again by Kapuscinski, who took advantage of a good pass from Tobollik. Less than 180 seconds later, Lechia had the opportunity to score again, but Musial’s penalty kick was defended in magnificent fashion by our goalkeeper – Augustyn (Wieslaw) Pytlos. Steel continued their onslaught and a quarter of an hour before the end the most beautiful goal of the match was scored by Czylok with a head shot, after a brilliant centre by Tobollik. The cannonade was ended in the 80th minute by Kapuscinski, which made Lechia’s long return journey home that day not very pleasant.
06.09.1961 – Mielec, 20th round 1st league, Stal Mielec – Lechia Gdańsk 6-1 (3-0)
Referee: Kowal (Katowice) Spectators: 10,000
Stal: Pytlos – Opiełka, Król, Lupa, Gaj, Budek, Gazda, Czylok, Pyka, Harężlak (46 Tobollik), Kapuściński Coach: H.Skromny
Lechia: Uścinowicz (46 Łuczak) – Skróbka, Korynt, Jarząbek, Nowicki, Musiał, Gadecki, Apolewicz, Charczuk (46 Szyndlar), Bieńkowski, Maksymiak Coach: L.Szollár
Goals: Harężlak 15, Kapuściński 24 (penalty), 69, 80, Czylok 30, 75 – Gadecki 67 min.
In summary, the balance of 1st league (premier league) duels between Stali and Lechia (including the struggle with Olimpia/Lechia Gdańsk from the 1995/96 season) is 15 matches (5 wins for Stali, 5 draws, 5 defeats, goals: 23-18). In the 2nd league they have competed 8 times and here we have a perfect draw (3 wins for Stali, 2 draws, 3 defeats, goals: 6-6).
Leszek Śledziona
Photo: Leszek Śledziona Archive
