Wisła Płock II Edges Widzew II in Late Drama, Tightens Grip on Top-Five Ambitions

In a contest shaped as much by will as by skill, Wisła Płock II clinched a tense 2-1 victory over Widzew II at Stadion MOSiR Łódź on Sunday, a result that not only affirmed Wisła’s upward trajectory but also left Widzew searching for answers amid an uneven campaign.

Any October chill in the central Polish air was quickly dispelled by an early jolt: after barely a dozen minutes, Wisła Płock II struck first, capitalizing on a nervy Widzew backline. The visitors’ opener at the twelfth minute—delivered clinically by one of Wisła’s rising prospects—set the tone and demanded a response from the hosts.

Yet, for much of the afternoon, that response never fully materialized. Widzew II, positioned in the bottom half of III Liga Group 1, pressed but found their efforts repeatedly frustrated by a disciplined Wisła defense, perhaps showing the resolve that has underpinned their climb into the league’s top five. Wisła, sensing the stakes, managed the game’s tempo with a maturity that belied their average squad age, never allowing themselves to be overrun even as the hosts mounted wave after wave of attacks in the second half.

The true drama, however, was reserved for the closing chapters. With the clock inching toward full time and the hosts anxiously seeking an equalizer, Wisła Płock II delivered a ruthless counterblow. The visitors’ second goal in the 85th minute—again, the result of sharp interplay and a clinical finish—appeared to have sealed the contest. It was a moment that underscored why Wisła has emerged as one of the division’s most reliable traveling sides: swift in transition, merciless in execution, and rarely fazed by hostile territory.

But the plot thickened almost immediately. Widzew finally broke through in the 87th minute, a flicker of hope from their own unknown hero. The late strike ignited the stadium and injected fresh urgency into stoppage time, but, as has too often been the case this season, Widzew’s surge came too late to alter the outcome. Wisła Płock II, their nerves tested but never undone, saw out the remaining moments with composure.

Contextualizing the Result

For Widzew II, the defeat was a frustrating echo of a season defined by inconsistency. The Łódź reserves entered the weekend sat 12th—just two places above the danger zone—with 14 points from 12 matches (4 wins, 2 draws, 6 losses). Their recent form has been a patchwork of resilience and regression: a respectable 1-1 draw against Jagiellonia II last week, a hard-fought 3-2 triumph at Wasilków in late September, but also a sobering 0-6 collapse at Troszyn that still lingers in the background.

Every time Widzew has threatened momentum, results like Sunday’s have halted their progress. The concession of a second late goal, followed by a near-instant reply, laid bare both their vulnerabilities and their potential. That they finished with fire but not points reflects the thin margins separating mid-table security from the threat below.

Wisła Płock II, meanwhile, continues to quietly build an impressive résumé. Sunday’s three points lift them to 20 from 12 matches (6 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses)—good enough for fifth, and breathing down the necks of the promotion-chasing pack. This latest victory was their third in five outings, a sequence that includes a 2-1 comeback at Wikielec and a narrow 1-0 home win over Wasilków—evidence that this group knows how to grind out results in close games.

It is a marked improvement from early-season wobbles, and after a September that saw points dropped in frustrating fashion, Wisła has rediscovered its edge. Whether at home or on the road, they are emerging as a side with the tactical discipline to capitalize on opponents’ lapses.

Implications for the Table and the Road Ahead

The result leaves Wisła Płock II firmly embedded in the playoff conversation, and if their blend of youthful verve and defensive poise holds, they could yet mount a credible challenge for promotion. With key fixtures looming, consistency—always the elusive currency in III Liga—will be their watchword.

For Widzew II, Sunday’s narrow defeat is a microcosm of a campaign spent searching for an identity. The ability to strike late and make matches close points to fight within the squad, but repeated failures to correct defensive lapses have left them vulnerable. With only 14 points from a possible 36, the pressure is on to turn resolve into results and avoid being drawn into a relegation scrap.

Recent head-to-head encounters between these reserve sides have often been closely contested, with neither able to establish clear supremacy over the other. Sunday’s affair only reinforced that narrative, though for now it is Wisła who holds the bragging rights.

As October deepens and the table tightens, every point is freighted with significance. Both squads, flush with developing talent and ambition, now face the grind of late autumn fixtures that may decide which ambitions are realized—and which are deferred for another year.