The blue-and-whites, who were still playing in the European cups in the autumn of 1982 after the World Cup in Spain, were disappointing from the start of the season, occupying last place in the table. However, after the replacement of Jacek Machciński by Marian Kosiński, something clearly changed since the overdue (30 April 1983) match in Mielec against Polish champion Widzew (2-3). After the previous two 1-0 wins: in Mielec against ŁKS (7 May) and in Krakow against Wisła (11 May), something was clearly stirring. From the first minutes of Saturday’s meeting, which started at 7pm, attack after attack from our team rained down on the goal of Legia, who had not yet won in Mielec until this match. The visitors were not indebted that day, so the emotions experienced by the Mielec audience that evening were high. As early as the 5th minute of the duel, striker Andrzej Łatka showed his later employer his best side. It was he who, after being fed the ball by Oratowski, on the left, stepped into a clear position and surprised the visitors for the first time in this match. It was this player, alongside Wlodzimierz Ciolek (this player was involved in two further opportunities that stopped the visiting goalkeeper), who was the best player for Steel in this contest. In the 39th minute, having had the initiative for a quarter of an hour, the Warriors broke through the Mielec defence for the fourth time. An excellent opportunity was not wasted by Karaś, who fired an accurate shot under the crossbar.

The second 45 minutes were even better. It started with dynamic charges Stal and missed shots ((49th and 53rd minute) from further distance by Buda. The decisive decision came after two quarters of an hour of this half. Latka was fouled just outside the penalty area. Two players approached the ball, and after an extremely precise (a copy of the action from the aforementioned match with ŁKS) shot by Kazimierz Buda over the wall (a detailed description of this action can be found at the end of these memories), the ball only stopped in the net. The following minutes brought a veritable onslaught from Stal, but two actions by reserve Banasik and Latka were stopped by the goalkeeper from the capital. FKS win raised hopes of an effective fight for existence (2 points loss to 14th in the table Cracovia), which lasted until the 88th minute of the 28th round, when Górnik scored the only goal of the match in Zabrze.

The undersigned remembers this win very well. The winning goal was already the last of the series – Ciolek ‘s two-legged toss of the ball backwards, which was repeatedly finished with an accurate shot from the goalkeeper: Andrzej Szarmach and, after his departure to French Auxerre, the club’s alumni Kazimierz Buda.

29.05.1983 – Mielec, 25th round First Division, Stal Mielec – Legia Warsaw 2-1 (1-1)

Referee: Mikolajewski (Plock) Spectators: 10,000

Stal: Stawarz – Skiba, Kawalec, Łukasik, Białek, Buda, Oratowski, Ciołek, Hnatio, Janikowski (61 Banasik), Łatka Coach: M. Kosiński

Legia: Kazimierski – Majewski, Załężny, Kakietek, W. Sikorski, Buncol, Kaczmarek, Miłoszewicz (75 Baran), Karaś, Turowski, Adamczyk Coach: J. Kopa

Goals: Latka 5, Buda 75 (free) – Karaś 39 min.

In summary, the balance of only first league (ekstraklasa) duels between Stal and Legia is 53 matches (19 victories for Stal, 14 draws, 20 defeats, goals: 64-64). 3 matches were played in the Polish Cup (0 wins for Stal, 1 draw, 2 defeats, goals: 4-9. 1 match was played in the 1977 League Cup, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Leszek Śledziona

Photo: Leszek Śledziona Archive