The 100th season of the PKO BP Ekstraklasa, Poland's top-flight soccer league, got underway on Friday, and Legia Warsaw, the country's most successful club, grabbed the headlines with a dramatic 1-0 stoppage-time victory over a determined Pogoń Szczecin.

A Back-and-Forth Battle Full of Missed Chances

The clash was an intense and evenly matched contest at Stadion Miejski im. Floriana Krygiera, home of Pogoń Szczecin, with both teams registering four shots on target before stoppage time in the second half.

However, Legia Warsaw looked like the side closest to breaking the deadlock.

Mileta Rajović had two goals ruled out during the match: the first in the 7th minute for handling the ball while finishing, and the second in the 54th minute for a foul on the opposing goalkeeper. The Danish striker constantly flirted with danger by operating near the end line after powerful efforts from Łukasz Zjawiński.

Pogoń goalkeeper Valentin Cojocaru also denied Rajović twice with outstanding saves in the 2nd and 27th minutes. He was forced into another big stop in the 21st minute, this time against Damian Szymański.

The hosts had their own opportunities but failed to capitalize. Musa Juwara missed clear chances in the 19th and 49th minutes, while Jean-Pierre Nsame wasted a headed opportunity in the 31st minute. The most surprising moment came in the 79th minute, when Nigerian forward Paul Mukairu committed a costly double mistake in front of goal.

That missed opportunity would eventually come back to haunt Pogoń.

Heart-Stopping Ending

The difference-maker was Croatian defender Zoran Arsenić, who scored the goal that secured all three points for Legia Warsaw in the 90+6th minute.

The decisive sequence began with a left-sided throw-in from Rafał Augustyniak. Jakub Żewłakow won the aerial duel inside the penalty area, and Paweł Wszołek delivered a clever three-fingered touch to redirect the ball into Arsenić’s path, allowing the experienced Balkan defender to seal the victory.

The goal came in dramatic fashion. Arsenić appeared at the far post to poke the ball over the line after Filip Čuić failed to clear the danger with a header. Defensive hesitation during the scramble inside the box allowed the Croatian to capitalize.

Cojocaru managed to push the ball away only fractions of a second later, but it was too late—the entire circumference of the ball had already crossed the goal line. Dimitrios Keramitsis also attempted to stop the goal with a desperate clearance using his chest near the line, but his effort was unsuccessful.

The late winner rewarded Legia Warsaw’s persistence, as the visitors were the more aggressive side and enjoyed greater possession throughout the match.

With the victory, Legia repeated the result from its previous visit to Szczecin on April 6, when it earned a 2-0 win at the same venue. Pogoń Szczecin has not defeated Legia Warsaw in league play since September 20, 2024.

PKO BP Ekstraklasa Standings and What's Next

With the victory, Legia Warsaw sits second in the early PKO BP Ekstraklasa standings with three points, trailing only Radomiak Radom, which opened the league's centennial season with a 2-1 home win over Wieczysta Kraków.

Matchday 1 continues on Saturday with three fixtures:

• Jagiellonia Białystok vs. Korona Kielce
• Górnik Zabrze vs. Śląsk Wrocław
• Lech Poznań vs. Cracovia

The action resumes on Sunday with another three matches:

• Raków Częstochowa vs. Wisła Płock
• Widzew Łódź vs. Motor Lublin
• Wisła Kraków vs. GKS Katowice

The opening round concludes on Monday, when Zagłębie Lubin hosts Piast Gliwice.

Legia's dramatic victory provides an ideal start to its pursuit of another domestic title, while the opening weekend of the PKO BP Ekstraklasa promises plenty more compelling action as Poland's historic 100th top-flight season gets underway.

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