Ruch Chorzów claimed a 2-0 victory over Lechia Zielona Góra in the Cup Round of 64 on Tuesday evening. The Polish Cup fixture concluded at the Lechia ground with the visitors advancing to the next stage. By then it was clear the away side had done enough to deserve their progression.
And here's the thing about the opening goal — it came barely three minutes in. A. Komor found the net early, catching Lechia's defence off guard. The home side never quite recovered their shape after that initial shock.
Ruch responded with composure. M. Chrapek doubled the advantage in the 41st minute, ensuring his side held a comfortable lead at half-time. To be fair, Lechia showed resilience but lacked the cutting edge to trouble the visitors' back line.
The match grew increasingly physical as it progressed. K. Rostek's day ended badly when he collected two yellow cards in quick succession, receiving his red card in the 91st minute after picking up another booking at 90+1.
Several substitutions marked the second half as both managers sought to change the game. Lechia brought on M. Zientarski in the 84th minute, while Ruch made three changes around the hour mark, including removing Chrapek after his goal.
Lechia's recent form has been mixed. They lost 2-0 to Medź Legnica II earlier this month, but had shown flashes of promise with wins against Warta Poznań and Barycz Słułów. This Cup defeat adds to a challenging period for the home side.
Ruch arrived with mixed results too, having lost 2-0 to Hrobry Głogów in their previous outing. But they showed character to bounce back and secure progression, something that will make life awkward for their upcoming opponents.
