A dramatic match that ended 4-3 to Lechia Gdansk despite being 0-0 at half time. 4 penalties were scored, another two from corners and just one from open play. The winner came through a penalty in the 96th minute from their veteran striker. They’d equalised to make it 3-3 in the 87th minute after having a goal disallowed just three minutes before. Playing in a 4-3-3, Lechia Gdansk pressed the opposition centre backs well and focused a lot of their play down the right.
Ratings
- A1 – Very good, could play higher
- A2 – Strong potential to play higher
- B1 – Good, strong player at level
- B2 – Potential to be strong player at level
- C – Average for the level, rewatch
- D – Below average in this match
Karol Fila
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Polish
- Age: 21
- Date of birth: 13/06/1998
- Current club: Lechia Gdansk
- Career: Lechia Gdansk
- Position: Right Back
- Preferred foot: Right
Much of Lechia Gdansk’s play was focused down Fila’s right hand side. He worked extremely hard to support the attack and would sprint into space in transition to counter attack. However, he was slower to track back at times. He was fast over medium-long distances with a good acceleration but lacked power. He has a lean, athletic build standing at 5’10” and showed average agility and explosiveness.
He was dangerous in the final third. He was an intelligent player who made really good under and overlapping runs, linking well with his winger. He was able to create space for himself and his winger and make smart penetrative runs to get into good crossing positions. His crossing was decent but didn’t create much danger on the day and could have set himself better at times and connected better with the ball.
He pressed well in the midfield and was strong 1v1 in the middle third in wide areas, able to get between the ball and the attacker well. In the defensive third though, Fila was less comfortable and was at fault for two goals. He gave away a penalty with a rash sliding challenge against the byline that had poor technique and was a poor decision, he also lost his man for their corner goal. He was keen to press forwards but sometimes would go too far and continue chasing as the ball moved to a different area and although he worked hard lacked discipline at times.
Rating – A2
Overall, the Polish U21 international looks like a strong attacking full back prospect who is intelligent in the final third but needs work defensively and would benefit from improving his final ball going by this game.
Ze Gomes
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Portuguese
- Age: 21
- Date of birth: 08/04/1999
- Current club: Lechia Gdansk, on loan from Benfica
- Career: FC Benfica, Lechia Gdansk (L)
- Position: Striker
- Preferred foot: Right
Playing on the left wing in this game, Gomes drifted inside a lot, taking up positions in the box where he was able to make some intelligent and dangerous runs with sharp runs across defenders. On the left side, he received the ball very well, able to play layoffs and then peel off to make dangerous runs forward.
He took several shots from the edge of the box but wasn’t able to threaten that much, not making a great connection with them and couldn’t get the right angle and curl. Passing options were also on and he lacked creativity in the final third at times. He displayed great dribbling in the box, able to drive at defenders and create space in the box. Although he was largely quite right footed he was good at tight dribbling. He was patient with fast feet and reactions, drawing in the defender, trying to make them plant their feet and then go inside to cut the ball back with this right foot. He grew into the game and became more comfortable on the wing and was able to dribble into the box more, before being subbed off in the 73rd minute.
With a quick burst of pace, great feet and intelligent movement, the Portuguese U20 international seemed promising and will benefit from the experience of playing in a physical league like Poland. Lacks size and physicality, and could have improved his finishing and decision making in the final third.
Rating – A1
Tomasz Makowski
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Polish
- Age: 20
- Date of birth: 19/07/1999
- Current club: Lechia Gdansk
- Career: Lechia Gdansk
- Position: Central Midfield
- Secondary position: Defensive Midfield
- Preferred foot: Right
Playing at the base of the midfield three, Makowski is 5’10” but agile with a low centre of gravity, he was smooth and quick with the ball. He received the turn really well with good head checks and awareness. He was man marked at times in the buildup but did well to dismark and evade pressure.
He spread play wide well, being very calm on the ball and also displayed a decent passing range with a few diagonals to the left back who was in space. He had quick reactions and made good decisions under pressure to play through the press and then spread play. He had a good work rate and was surprisingly good aerially, winning a lot of headers in midfield. He sensed dangers and swept across the midfield well breaking up play and pressing the ball.
Overall, a really good well-rounded performance in midfield. The Polish youth international was able to break up play well, showed good press resistance and was able to spread play and progress the ball well. He’s slight in frame with average pace and could be more explosive and physical.
Rating – A2