Górnik Zabrze are a 14-time Polish champion and one of the most successful football teams in the country's history - although they won most of their honors between the 1950s and 1980s. Górnik's achievement list also includes the Polish football's highest continental mark - the 1970 European Cup Winners' Cup final against Manchester City, narrowly lost 2-1 by the Zabrze-based team.
On Saturday, in the 2026 Polish Cup final, Górnik faced off against another outfit from the southern region of Silesia - Raków Częstochowa, a club with a slightly less impressive history but a greater number of recent successes. These include one Polish Champions title, three top league runner-up finishes, and two Polish Cup triumphs - all added to Raków's cabinet since 2021.
The PGE Narodowy stadium in Warsaw was packed to the brim for the final - with Zabrze fans clearly more numerous and louder. In their chants they demanded their team to "play like in the good old days" - and today's players of Górnik did just that.
Although Raków was more in possession in the first 20 minutes, they did not turn this into clear chances - and when they managed to do it on one occasion, their Norwegian star striker Brunes had his shot blocked by Górnik's defender.
Meanwhile, Górnik was brutally efficient, as in the 32nd minute they had their first proper chance - and they immediately converted it. A perfect corner cross by Slovenian international Janża was headed into the net by Italian-German-Ghanian winger Massimo - and the team from Zabrze made it 1-0.
Signed in the summer from the German 2nd Bundesliga club Greuther Fürth, Massimo has been plagued by health problems since his transfer - and has been considered a bit of a disappointment by the fans and pundits alike until now. Saturday's Polish Cup final was just his 11th game this season, and it was his first goal in Górnik's colors.
There were no more clear-cut chances for neither of teams before the break, as both Raków and Górnik did their best to keep their defence tight and avoid any unnecessary exposure, for fear of conceding a costly goal. The first few minutes after the break also couldn't impress the fans. The match became somewhat chaotic in this period - full of physical challenges and fouls disrupting the rhythm of play, with plenty of referee's interventions needed - and the intensity causing both sides to lose possession in the middle more often than they should.
This gridlock was finally broken by the other Górnik winger, Ukrainian Khlan - although again, with some help from the rivals'. In the opponents' half, Khlan intercepted a bad clearance by one of Raków defenders - and after a short run with the ball he unleashed a scorcher from beyond the penalty area, making it 2-0 for Zabrze.
Raków manager immediately responded by bringing in two attack-oriented subs - but although this helped his team reestablish dominance in ball possession, no clear chances resulted. Częstochowa's best opportunity to claw one back came after the 89th minute corner, when in the resulting goal area scuffle Brunes failed to push the ball into the net.
All this translated into growing frustration among Raków players – which brought a red card for their Norwegian striker for a horrendous tackle on Zabrze's veteran German-Polish star Podolski in the second half's injury time. After the match ended, another Częstochowa player was sent off, this time for arguing with the referee in less-than-polite manner.
Meanwhile, Górnik's players, coaches, and fans could begin celebrating their team's seventh Polish Cup win - and Zabrze's Czech midfielder Patrik Hellebrand was named the final's MVP.
The trophy was presented to the winners by Polish President Karol Nawrocki. A retired legendary Górnik captain, Stanisław Oślizło, who led the club to their previous victory in the final back in 1972, was invited to lift the 2026 Polish Cup together with today's team.
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Source: PAP, IAR