Our team entered this game weakened by the absence of two offensive players, Tochel and Sajdak. However, this did not have a negative impact on the quality of our play. The crowd there appreciated the visitors for the organisation of the game, the hard fight for every ball and their speed. Already in the 3rd minute we managed to set the course of the match. Mariusz Barnak took a free kick from distance. The local goalkeeper Jedynak tried to intervene too late, deflecting the ball upwards, and the incoming Maciej Śliwowski, with a head shot, put it into the net. We took the initiative for the next 10 minutes, attacking the surprised locals and winning as many as four corner kicks in the period. Later on, the WKS players came to their senses and were keen to equalise, especially thanks to the more composed play of their three players: Tarasiewicz, Prusik and Szewczyk.

At the start of the second half, they managed to beat the Mielec goalkeeper for the only time in the match. In the 47th minute, Ryszard Tarasiewicz, who at the time was excellent at hitting free kicks (a memorable goal against Sweden in the lost match at Solna), was allegedly fouled (some of the press covering the encounter, as well as coach Włodzimierz Gąsior, had doubts about the referee’s decision) at 20 metres. After a powerful strike by the injured player himself (Prusik had earlier marred the strike), our goalkeeper did not move when the ball bounced off the steel bracket inside the goal. The hosts could have been tempted to score another goal, they had two good opportunities. First, in the 71st minute, Szewczyk hit the crossbar with a shot from 40 metres, and a moment later, in a one-on-one situation with our goalkeeper, Drączkowski did not decide to shoot. Mielczanie in this phase played consistently and respected the ball, guarding a good result and managed to get another point. Coach Włodzimierz Gąsior said after thematch that: he is satisfied with the result, especially without Stal played without Tochel and Sajdak. It is likely that both will not play again until the end of the game (Tochel leaves for France, Sajdak injured).

07.06.1989 – Wrocław, 27th round 1st league, Śląsk Wrocław – FKS PZL-Stal Mielec 1-1 (0-1)

Referee: Kasierski (Gorzów Wielkopolski) Spectators: 10,000

Śląsk: Jedynak – Tęsiorowski, Szewczyk, Król, Góra, Jaworski, Tarasiewicz, Machaj, Prusik, Mandziejewicz (83 Trojak), Socha (46 Drączkowski) Coach : R.Szukiełowicz

Stal: Wojdyga – Porębny, Tyburski, Czachowski, Fedoruk, Barnak, Śliwowski (79 Stopa), Urbanek (74 Gruszecki), Tułacz, Klich, Makuch Coach: W.Gąsior

Goals: Tarasiewicz 47 (free) – Śliwowski 3 (head) min.

In summary, the balance of extra-class duels between Stala and Slask is in favour of the Wroclawians. 44 matches were played (15 wins for Stali, 12 draws, 17 defeats). In goals 52-50. In the 2nd league, the Mielecs played against them 6 times in the 60s (3 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat, goals 7-5). In the Polish Cup, the balance is also more favourable for Slask. It has won twice, by scores of 2-0 and 5-2.

Leszek Śledziona

Photo: Leszek Śledziona Archive