Conference League: Raków avoids humiliation, relying on former Legia player's goals

Częstochowa, Poland – Raków Częstochowa flirted with disaster on Thursday, narrowly escaping a humiliating upset against Maltese minnows Valletta FC in the first leg of their Conference League qualifier. The Polish champions, trailing 1-0 after a listless first half, ultimately secured a 3-1 victory, but the performance left much to be desired.

Valletta FC, considered significant underdogs, stunned the home crowd in the 23rd minute when Argentinian defender Manuel Morello capitalized on a defensive lapse to score. The goal sent a jolt through the stadium, raising fears of another European embarrassment for a Polish club.

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We played too sluggishly from the beginning. We tried to maintain composure, even when things didn't go our way. We can't panic and lose control. That was important in this match.

Raków's response came after halftime. Mahir Emreli, a former Legia Warsaw striker on loan from Kaiserslautern, leveled the score. The tension ratcheted up again when the referee awarded Valletta a penalty for a handball by Patryk Makuch. However, Petar Sekulović's miss, blasting the ball over the bar, proved a turning point. Raków seized the momentum, with Makuch and then the Greek defender Stratos Svarnas adding goals to seal the win.

Despite the comeback, Raków coach Dawid Kroczek acknowledged the sluggish start. "We played too sluggishly from the beginning," he admitted. "We tried to maintain composure, even when things didn't go our way. We can't panic and lose control. That was important in this match." The team now carries a solid advantage to Malta for the second leg, but the performance served as a stark warning that complacency against lesser-known opponents can have severe consequences.

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No opponent should be underestimated.