Arka Gdynia lost the Tricity derby to Lechia Gdańsk. The rivals beat Arka 1-0 in the 21st round of the Betclic 1 Liga with a second-half goal deciding the match.
The only goal came in the 64th minute. After a cross from the right, the ball deflected off an Arka defender and fell to Sebastian Kowalczyk, who finished into an empty net. Arka's coach, Dariusz Marzec, admitted after the game that his team struggled to break down the opponent's defence. "We didn't take our chances, and they capitalised on one mistake," Marzec said.
Offensive Struggles
Arka managed only one shot on target throughout the match. They controlled possession for long spells, especially in the first half, but failed to create clear-cut opportunities. Lechia defended compactly and effectively blocked the central areas, forcing Arka to play out wide where crosses were often intercepted. This defeat marks a third consecutive league loss for the Gdynia side, which is clearly affecting their league position. The drop to 11th place means Arka holds just a three-point cushion over the relegation zone, currently occupied by Chrobry Głogów. The current standings show how tight the mid-table is.
Squad and Injuries
Dariusz Marzec was without his key striker, Marcin Cebula, who has been sidelined for several weeks with a muscle injury. His absence was particularly felt in the final third. Experienced defender Piotr Polczak performed steadily, but the entire defensive line made a costly error for the match's only goal. Arka's next test is an away match against GKS Katowice this coming Saturday. In their last five league matches, Arka have taken just two points, the worst record in the league over that period.
