In a nail-biting encounter at the Stadion Miejski in Kołobrzeg, Arka Gdynia clinched a critical 1-0 victory over Kotwica Kołobrzeg on April 4, 2025, thanks to a dramatic last-minute goal from Marc Navarro. This win not only solidifies Arka’s position at the top of the Betclic 1 Liga but also extends their unbeaten streak to twelve matches, with six of those resulting in clean sheets.
As the match began, the stakes were high. Kotwica Kołobrzeg was desperate to secure their spot in the league, while Arka Gdynia was aiming for direct promotion to the PKO Ekstraklasa. The contrasting ambitions set the stage for an intense battle. Kotwica, under the guidance of coach Piotr Tworek, adopted a defensive strategy, looking to capitalize on quick counterattacks. Meanwhile, Arka, led by coach Dawid Szwarga, sought to maintain pressure and dominate possession.
From the outset, Arka displayed their attacking intent. Kocyła was particularly active, seizing opportunities to threaten the Kotwica defense. In the 13th minute, he controlled the ball in the penalty area, but his effort was thwarted by Kotwica's goalkeeper Marek Kozioł, who was in fine form throughout the match. Arka continued to press, and in the 22nd minute, Navarro’s long-range shot flew just over the bar.
As the first half progressed, the tension mounted. In the 40th minute, Arka thought they had taken the lead when Tornike Gaprindaszwili found the back of the net. However, the joy was short-lived as VAR intervened, disallowing the goal due to an offside call against Szymon Sobczak, who had been involved in the buildup. This setback only fueled Arka’s determination as they headed into halftime with the score still at 0-0.
The second half saw Kotwica attempt to find their rhythm, launching a quick counterattack shortly after the break. They managed to threaten Arka’s defense but failed to convert their chances. Meanwhile, Arka continued to dominate possession, with Kozioł making critical saves against Navarro and Gaprindaszwili’s attempts.
As the match approached its final moments, it seemed destined for a goalless draw. However, in the 93rd minute, the breakthrough came. Dawid Gojny delivered a precise pass to Michał Rzuchowski in the penalty area, who then set up Navarro at the edge of the box. Navarro struck with precision, and despite a deflection off a Kotwica defender, the ball found its way into the net, sending the Arka fans into a frenzy.
“We knew coming here wouldn’t be easy,” said Michał Marcjanik, Arka’s defensive leader. “We were patient and consistent, and that paid off. We’re happy to take all three points and maintain our lead.”
On the other side, Kozioł expressed disappointment over the late goal. “We were close to a draw, but conceding in added time always stings. I think we can take pride in our performance and focus on the positives,” he remarked.
The match statistics tell a story of Arka’s dominance: they recorded 15 shots compared to Kotwica’s 4, with 4 of those on target against just 1 for the hosts. Arka also held 55% of possession, reflecting their control throughout the match.
With this victory, Arka Gdynia not only solidifies their position at the top of the league but also increases their buffer over the teams chasing promotion. As the season progresses, every point becomes crucial, and Arka's ability to grind out results, even in challenging circumstances, speaks volumes about their aspirations for the season.
Looking ahead, both teams will need to regroup. Arka will aim to continue their winning streak as they push for promotion, while Kotwica must find ways to secure points to avoid relegation. The battle for supremacy in the Betclic 1 Liga is far from over, and with each match, the stakes only get higher.
