Lech lose to FK Teplice

Over the past few weeks, Lech Poznań played three friendly games. First, Niels Frederiksen’s squad lost to Piast Gliwice 0:1 and then went on to defeat Banik Ostrava 2:0. Meanwhile, a week ago, the team from Poznań drew 1:1 against Dundee FC. The coaching staff scheduled two more friendly games before the league kicks off – both to be played on the training pitch at Bułgarska Street, on the same day. In the first of the two practice games, Lech beat Lechia Zielona Góra 5:0 thanks to goals from Filip Szymczak (two), Adriel Ba Loua (two), and Ali Gholizadeh. For the last friendly of the pre-season, against FK Teplice, Niels Frederiksen set up a different line-up – one that included, among others, the 17-year-old defender Wojciech Mońka and Antoni Kozubal, who has just returned from loan at GKS Katowice.

However, it was Kristoffer Velde and Afonso Sousa who shone the brightest on the pitch. In the 12^th minute, the two offensive players built a good goal-scoring opportunity, but the Norwegian’s shot was blocked by Teplice’s defensive line. Not long later, the Portuguese midfielder tried to surprise the Czech keeper, but his shot was off target.

30 minutes into the game, the guests came close to scoring. The referee awarded FK Teplice a controversial penalty, but Bartosz Mrozek saved his team from conceding a goal. A few minutes later, Lech had the best goal-scoring chance of the first half. Joel Pereira converted a free kick into a cross which managed to reach Velde, but the Norwegian’s shot was blocked at the last moment and the ball flew above the crossbar.

The hosts dominated the first quarter of the second half and could have scored a goal or two but Antoni Kozubal’s header was off-target and Mikael Ishak was successfully blocked by the Czech defensive line. In the following minutes, the match became more balanced and gradually FK Teplice started causing more problems to Lech’s defenders before finally finding the back of the net with a great header.

Frederiksen’s players had two chances to equalize quickly but Velde’s shot was too light and Jesper Karlström’s attempt was unsuccessful. The wasted opportunities took revenge and in the 82^nd minute when the guests scored a second goal.

The last friendly game of the pre-season ended with a two-goal win for FK Teplice. As a result, Lech finished the summer with two wins, two losses, and a draw in their account. Next target: PKO BP Ekstraklasa. Niels Frederiksen’s squad will play their first league match on July 21^st (at 5:30 PM) at Enea Stadium.

Lech Poznań - FK Teplice 0:2 (0:0)

Goals: (73.), (82.)

Lech Poznań: Bartosz Mrozek - Joel Pereira, Wojciech Mońka, Antonio Milic, Michał Gurgul (46. Bartosz Tomaszewski) - Jesper Karlström, Antoni Kozubal - Dino Hotić, Afonso Sousa, Kristoffer Velde - Mikael Ishak