POZNAN (Interstat) — Dominik Sokol scored in the 84th minute to give visiting LKS Lodz a 1-0 victory over Warta Poznan in a competitive match. Sokol finished a move set up by Julian Keiblinger, whose assist helped the visitors take the only goal of the game. LKS Lodz held Warta scoreless over the closing minutes to secure the result. Warta Poznan was the home side and LKS Lodz was the visitor. The win moved LKS Lodz to 2-1 in this competition and 2-1 across all competitions. Warta Poznan dropped to 1-2 in this competition and 2-2 across all competitions. LKS Lodz scored one goal total, while Warta Poznan scored none.

The decisive moment arrived late after a match that remained scoreless into the final stretch. LKS Lodz had already been shown three yellow cards before Warta Poznan’s first. Craciun was booked in the 60th minute, Keiblinger followed in the 65th, and Sokol was cautioned in the 77th. Warta Poznan’s Najemski was booked in the 80th minute, four minutes before Sokol’s goal. The caution against Sokol did not prevent him from later finding the winner. Sokol was credited with 27 minutes, one goal and a yellow card, while Keiblinger was credited with 90 minutes, one assist and a yellow card. The goal was the only score of the match and made the visitors’ lead stand.

Both teams used substitutions to reshape the match. Warta Poznan made two changes in the 54th minute involving Kalata and Lysiak. LKS Lodz responded in the 63rd minute with Wysokinski and Karasinski. Warta Poznan made another change in the 68th minute involving Szymanek. LKS Lodz used Hinokio in the 72nd minute and Szczygiel in the 73rd. Warta Poznan replaced Najemski in the 82nd minute, and LKS Lodz brought on Arasa in the 82nd. The late changes set the stage for Sokol’s breakthrough and helped LKS Lodz protect its narrow advantage.

Sokol’s goal was the standout attacking moment of the game. Keiblinger provided the assist and was also among the players cautioned, having been booked 19 minutes before the goal. LKS Lodz’s defense made the single goal stand, keeping Warta Poznan from equalizing in the final minutes. Warta Poznan could not convert its late opportunities and finished without a goal. The visitors managed the closing stages after the goal and kept their clean sheet intact.

The result continued an uneven run for both sides. LKS Lodz had previously beaten Podbeskidzie 1-0 and lost to Ruch Chorzow 2-0. Warta Poznan had beaten Skierniewice 1-0, lost to Stal Mielec 2-1 and beaten Chrobry Glogow 3-1. The home side entered the match with recent scoring form but was unable to break through against LKS Lodz. LKS Lodz’s win followed a loss in its previous listed result and gave the visitors another victory in the competition. The previous results provided contrasting form, but the visitors found the only goal.

The game was tight throughout, with the only goal arriving in the 84th minute. LKS Lodz managed the final minutes after taking the lead and secured the win despite the late yellow cards and substitutions that interrupted the flow. Warta Poznan pressed for an answer but could not find one. The visitors left with the victory and the clean sheet. The result left Warta Poznan still searching for a second win in this competition while LKS Lodz improved its position. LKS Lodz’s clean sheet was preserved through the final whistle.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Warta Poznan 1, LKS Lodz 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected LKS Lodz with a 66.1 percent probability to win. Warta Poznan had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.25. The total score of 1 went over the over/under line of 2.5.