In the first semi-final, Wisła Kraków (5th in Poland's second tier 1. Liga) hosted top league's Piast Gliwice (12th in Ekstraklasa). Fuelled by more than 30.000 local supporters, Kraków's 'White Star' took an early lead in the 1st minute thanks to a goal by Szymon Sobczak. Spanish winger Jesús Alfaro made it 2-0 for Wisła in the 37th minute - and Piast seemed hopeless till the half-time whistle was blown.
Although the visitors performed much better after the break, and Poland's U21 centre back Ariel Mosór clawed one back for Piast nine minutes into the second half - Wisła kept the lead till the end and claimed the spot in the Polish Cup final.
In the second semi-final game, two teams from Poland's top tier Ekstraklasa clashed - as the leaders Jagiellonia Białystok visited Pogoń Szczecin, currently 6th. Both teams went into the game aware of the stakes and tight in the back, so despite some quality attacking football being played, the first half ended goalless.
Pogoń's Greek international Striker Efthýmis Kouloúris managed to finally break the deadlock after the break. First he had a goal rightfully disallowed when the VAR referees noticed an offside. That didn't discourage Kouloúris, though - and after a few minutes, in the 59th, the Greek gave Pogoń the lead. The away team managed to equalise the otherwise close match twenty minutes later, when Jagiellonia's left back Bartłomiej Wdowik found the net after a set piece.
The score held till the final whistle, and an extra time had to be played. Eight minutes into its course, Pogoń's Norwegian box-to-box Fredrik Ulvestad converted a perfect cross by seasoned Polish winger Grosicki, heading for the 2-1 lead by the home team - and as it turned out, also setting the final score.
Founded in 1948, Pogoń Szczecin never won neither the Polish Championship nor the Polish Cup - despite its high, 7th place in the all-time top league table and making it thrice to the cup final in the previous years. On the 2nd of May it will have a good chance to finally put a trophy in their cabinet.
It will not be an easy feat though, as despite its current second tier status, their rivals Wisła Kraków are a historic club with a huge support - with thirteen Polish Championships, four Polish Cups and four Polish Supercups claimed since they were founded in 1906.
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Source: 90minut.pl, Weszlo.com