GRODZISK MAZOWIECKI, Poland (Interstat) — Stal Mielec used an early goal from Gerbowski F. and a resolute defensive effort to secure a 1-0 victory over Grodzisk M. in their global football match on Friday. The decisive moment arrived in the sixth minute, when Gerbowski scored to give the visitors a lead they protected for the rest of the contest. Grodzisk M. chased an equalizer throughout but could not find a way through as Stal Mielec held its narrow advantage.

The early goal dictated the shape of the game. Stal Mielec settled into a lead and defended it with discipline, while Grodzisk M. was left to pursue a response. The visitors’ Kwiecien B. was shown a yellow card in the 62nd minute. Grodzisk M. made a triple substitution in the 63rd minute, bringing on Jaron D., Kargulewicz K. and Uzoigwe H. as it looked to change the match. Stal Mielec countered with substitutions of its own, including Cybulski K. and Gmur T. in the 67th and 68th minutes. Grodzisk M.’s Oshafi A. was booked in the 69th minute, and Ciepiela B. entered for the hosts at the same minute. Stal Mielec made further changes in the 72nd minute, with Kwiecien B. and Cebula M. coming on. Grodzisk M.’s Los K. entered in the 87th minute, and Stal Mielec’s Gerbowski F. came off in the 88th minute after scoring the game’s only goal. Zbrog J. of Grodzisk M. received a yellow card in the 89th minute. The sequence of changes and bookings underscored Grodzisk M.’s push for a response and Stal Mielec’s effort to protect its advantage. No further goals followed.

The result improved Stal Mielec’s record in this competition to 2 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw. Grodzisk M.’s competition record is now 1 win and 3 losses. Across all competitions, Stal Mielec stands at 2 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw, while Grodzisk M. is 1 win and 4 losses. The competition records now show Stal Mielec with two victories, one loss and one draw, while Grodzisk M. has one victory and three losses. In all competitions, Stal Mielec has two wins, one loss and one draw, and Grodzisk M. has one win and four losses.

Stal Mielec entered the match after a 0-0 draw with Chrobry Glogow, a 3-0 loss at Legnica and a 2-1 home win over Warta Poznan. In reverse order, those previous results were a scoreless draw with Chrobry Glogow, a defeat at Legnica and a home victory over Warta Poznan. The visitors’ early goal allowed them to play from ahead, and the result gave Stal Mielec another positive mark in its competition record.

Grodzisk M. had lost to Ruch Chorzow and Polonia Warszawa, beaten Chrobry Glogow and fallen at Radomiak Radom. In reverse order, Grodzisk M.’s previous results were a 2-0 loss at Ruch Chorzow, a 1-0 home loss to Polonia Warszawa, a 4-0 win at Chrobry Glogow and a 7-2 loss at Radomiak Radom. The hosts made late changes and received a late booking in their attempt to find an equalizer, but Stal Mielec’s early goal remained the difference. Grodzisk M.’s final change came in the 87th minute, and its last booking arrived in the 89th minute as the hosts pressed to the end.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Grodzisk M. 2, Stal Mielec 2. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Stal Mielec with a 78.4 percent probability to win. Grodzisk M. had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 1 went over the over-under line of 2.75.