Polska Ekstraklasa
Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana
March 3, 2019
So, finally, I had a chance to see the other team big team in my town - Wisla Krakow, otherwise known as The White Star. The giants of Polish football are presently experiencing turbulent times and are in some kind of financial crisis. The second home game after a long winter break was played against Pogon Szczecin.
Wisla occupy the municipal stadium right across the park from their arch-rival Krakovia. The stadium is named after Henryk Reyman who was Wisla's best player and a war hero. It is quite large and according to some, resembles White Hart Lane or other British stadia. You can't help but wonder, how close it really is to Krakovia's home.
Even though the day was very windy, I decided to take a short walk from downtown, passing students' campuses as I approached the stadium in the park. I can only imagine how many people would be disgusted by the antisemitic Wisla stickers, but these stickers are directed not against Jews, but rather against Krakovia, who are considered to be a Jewish club.
There were people in Wisla colours with over 2 hours before kickoff. I noticed quite a few British and Dutch tourists, who decided to see the game. With their Berghauses and Lyle and Scotts, they looked very differently from the Polish football crowd, who mostly wore club scarves and various Wisla attire. A small shipping container near the parking lot, turned out to be a club shop and you could also buy pizza and burgers nearby.
The queue to the ticket office increased significantly as the kickoff approached. We got there with around 1.5 hours to go and spent about 20 minutes before we got the tickets. One of the stands behind the goal was already sold out so we settled for the corner section. As it was our first game here, we got a good discount. The young steward asked for my ID inside the turnstile and that was the first time like that in Poland.
I really enjoyed the stadium inside. It has a lot of character. Our seats were quite high and it was really windy and cold. Also, a bit of the view was blocked by the railing, but I did not care. Was just happy to finally watch some football.
And again, mad props go to the Poles and the way they support their teams. Not just the fan section, but the entire stadium supports the chants and the cheers. Wisla's anthem was sung by everybody in the attendance with their scarves out. Quite a sight to behold. Another spirited rendition of the anthem Wisla song came when the game clock struck 19:06 - the year the team was founded. And Kuba Blacschikowski, who famously decided to go back to WIsla to play for free, obviously got the biggest cheer and a personal chant. A small number of Pogon fans with a single banner came to see their team and we heard them several times.
The game was mad. Probably one of the best games I've ever seen live. Pogon was a much better side throughout most of the game and were 3-0 up with 10 minutes to go. The second goal was a VAR- decision penalty but the two were excellent long-range strikes from outside the penalty box. It looked like the game was done. But then Wisla scored an absolute screamer - even a better long shot the previous ones. And then, with just a few minutes to go, the same number 10 for Wisla - the Albanian Vullnet Basha scored a very similar long shot again. So 4 of the 5 goals were absolute beauties. Needless to say, the crowd went mad. There were a couple of water cups thrown when the ref's decision went to Pogon. Unfortunately no miracle happened and guests from Szczecin went home with deserved 3 points.
I have nothing to add apart from the obvious. Loved the game, the stadium and the whole experience. If you don't go to games, you're missing so much. No TV will ever replace that.
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