Wisła Kraków delivered a stunning performance on Saturday, defeating Ruch Chorzów 5-0 at the historic Stadion Śląski, showcasing their ambition to return to the Ekstraklasa.
The match drew the highest attendance for league play in Poland during the 21st century, as 53,293 fans packed the stands of the stadium, creating an electric atmosphere. Yet, what many expected to be a fiercely contested battle turned out to be anything but.
From the whistle, Wisła Kraków established dominance. The scoring began early, just four minutes in, when Mariusz Kutwa capitalized on a corner delivered by Marko Poletanović. Skimming past defenders, Kutwa struck with impressive precision, sending the ball crashing off the crossbar before finding the back of the net.
Building momentum, Wisła doubled their lead at the 21-minute mark thanks to Angel Rodado, who expertly directed his header past Ruch’s goalkeeper, Martin Turk, after connecting with another pinpoint cross from Rafał Mikulec. This goal served as a body blow for Ruch, who struggled to regain their composure.
Just before the half-time whistle, Ángel Baena took advantage of the chaos within Ruch's penalty area, extending Wisła’s lead to 3-0. Fans of the home side could only watch as their team faltered, with audible discontent echoing throughout the stadium when the halftime break came.
The second half saw Ruch attempt to regroup, but the hosts' hopes quickly deflated when Rodado struck again. He secured his second goal of the evening and fourth for Wisła just 11 minutes after the restart, once again heading home from close range after another teasing corner.
Rodado wasn’t finished yet; just four minutes later, he completed his hat-trick with a stunning long-distance shot, beautifully curling the ball beyond Turk. With this performance, he not only emerged as the match’s star but also became the leading scorer of the league with 16 goals.
Throughout the match, Wisła’s defense remained largely untroubled, with goalkeeper Patryk Letkiewicz hardly needing to break from his routine as Ruch struggled to find any offensive rhythm. The stark differences highlighted Wisła's cohesive play and Ruch's disarray, with Wisła comfortably accumulating shots and possession.
Despite brief moments of activity from Ruch, including attempts by Bartłomiej Barański and Mo Mezghrani, they failed to even register a consolation goal. Frustration mounted as fans began leaving their seats long before the final whistle, unable to bear the sight of their team's capitulation.
With this victory, Wisła Kraków firmly climbed up to the sixth spot on the league table, rekindling their hopes for promotion. Conversely, Ruch Chorzów, once solidly positioned for direct promotion, now finds themselves needing to rectify their mistakes amid deepening concerns about sustainability.
After this match, Wisła Kraków’s coach Mariusz Jop expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, emphasizing the importance of consistency as they look forward to their next encounter against Ark Gdynia. Meanwhile, Ruch’s coach Dawid Szulczek is under pressure to reassess strategies, as his side continues to face challenges on the path to promotion.