In a thrilling encounter at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Legia Warszawa triumphed over Pogoń Szczecin with a score of 4:3 in the Polish Cup final on May 2, 2025. This victory marks Legia's 21st title in the history of the tournament, securing their place in the Europa League qualifiers for the upcoming 2025/2026 season. The match drew an impressive crowd of 51,233 fans, who witnessed a dramatic clash filled with excitement, controversy, and a total of seven goals.
The match kicked off with both teams showing attacking intent, contradicting pre-match predictions of a cautious approach. Legia struck first in the 13th minute when Ryoya Morishita made a brilliant run down the right flank, delivering a perfect cross to Luquinhas, who finished from close range to give Legia the lead.
Legia seemed poised to double their advantage shortly after when Steve Kapuadi found the net in the 24th minute. However, the goal was disallowed after a VAR review determined that Luquinhas had handled the ball in the buildup. Despite the setback, Legia was awarded a penalty for a foul on Radovan Pankov by Pogoń's goalkeeper, Valentin Cojocaru. Unfortunately for Legia, Marc Gual's penalty was saved by Cojocaru, keeping the score at 1-0.
Pogoń began to find their rhythm following the penalty save, and they came close to equalizing when Rafał Kurzawa's powerful shot hit the crossbar. The Szczecin side's persistence paid off just before halftime, as Danijel Loncar headed in a well-placed free-kick from Grosicki in the 41st minute, leveling the score at 1-1.
As the second half commenced, Legia quickly regained the lead just 20 seconds in. Morishita capitalized on a defensive error by Pogoń, firing a shot into the net to make it 2-1. The momentum shifted back to Legia, who extended their lead in the 64th minute when Ilja Szkurin scored after breaking free from the defense, making it 3-1.
Pogoń refused to back down and responded just three minutes later. A defensive mix-up led to an own goal by Ruben Vinagre, bringing the score to 3-2 and reigniting hope for the Szczecin fans. The game continued to be a back-and-forth affair, with both teams creating chances.
Legia managed to score again in the 85th minute when Vinagre redeemed himself by striking the ball from a tight angle, and after a deflection, it found the back of the net, increasing the lead to 4-2. However, Pogoń wasn't finished yet. In the dying moments of the match, Kacper Smoliński scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time, reducing the deficit to 4-3, but it was too little, too late.
Throughout the match, the players showcased their skills and determination, with Morishita being named the Player of the Match for his outstanding performance, including a goal and an assist. The attractiveness of the match was rated a perfect 10/10, highlighting the thrilling nature of this cup final.
In the aftermath of the match, expert Grzegorz Mielcarski remarked on Legia's superior quality, stating, "Football won today." Meanwhile, commentator Mateusz Borek described the encounter as extraordinary, emphasizing the emotional rollercoaster experienced by both teams and their supporters.
For Pogoń, this defeat marked their fifth loss in a cup final, and they will now look to regroup as they aim for a strong finish in the PKO Ekstraklasa, where they currently sit fourth, just two points behind third-placed Jagiellonia Białystok.
As for Legia, the victory not only secures them a significant financial prize of 5 million złotych from PZPN but also 40 medals for their players. The team will celebrate this triumph while also reflecting on their missed opportunity to reclaim the league title, which has eluded them for the past three years.
In conclusion, the Polish Cup final delivered an unforgettable spectacle, showcasing the passion and talent within Polish football. The result reinforces Legia's status as a dominant force in the league while leaving Pogoń to ponder what might have been in yet another heart-wrenching finale.
