Polish media call it a disaster: they say Górnik were better than Ferencváros

The Polish sports media are struggling to digest Górnik Zabrze's exit from Europa League qualifying. The unanimous view is that the Polish side were not worse than Ferencváros and clearly controlled the home leg, but one fatal mistake cost them. The elimination is described as a huge missed opportunity, and even as a disaster, after Ferencváros advanced 2-1 on aggregate.

A painful own goal decided it

Dziennik Zachodni described the match as a major disaster, stressing that Górnik wasted a chance that may not come again. According to their journalists the hosts dominated but still could not force a win. The reports also highlight the contrast between the two legs: in the Budapest heat Zabrze looked pale, while at home they attacked from the first minute in an effort to erase the deficit.

The portal Weszlo was even blunter, arguing that Górnik clearly played better and deserved to advance on the balance of play. The piece draws a parallel with their earlier tie against Fenerbahce, when a 1-0 away defeat was also followed by a 1-1 draw at home.

Weszlo's analysis points out that although Górnik enjoyed significant superiority, a single goal was enough for Fradi to secure their passage. The Hungarian champions visibly set up to defend and counter, and the tactic worked. Based on the first half at home, a comeback still looked realistic at the break.

The cold shower came with Michal Sacek's own goal, which not only levelled the match but effectively settled the tie. Sport.pl describes the 82nd-minute strike as a dramatic turning point, all the more frustrating because their team had controlled the game until then. Dziennik Zachodni called the goal a fatal blow, adding that Górnik were completely spent by the end and the substitutions brought no freshness.

The quotes reflect the frustration

The sharpest criticism argued that Górnik should have eliminated a Ferencváros side in this kind of form. According to that view the win was theirs to take, yet they lost the tie. The disappointment in the Polish press is therefore aimed not at the team's performance but at the opportunity missed. The general feeling is that Fradi were nothing special and simply protected the advantage earned in Budapest, while Górnik, for all their superiority at home, could not turn it into goals.

Górnik coach Michal Gasparik made a similar point, saying after the match that the better team did not go through. Balázs Borbély, on the other hand, stressed that in cup football only the result matters, not the performance.

With the draw in Poland, Ferencváros reached the group stage of a European competition for the eighth season in a row, and now face Turkish side Trabzonspor in the Europa League play-off.