The other directly-promoted club is Lechia Gdańsk, who secured this goal two weeks ago.
After 30 out of 34 games of Poland's second tier, Fortuna 1. Liga, some leading football statistics in the country estimated GKS Katowice's chances for direct promotion (top 2 places) at mere 1,4% - as they were fourth at the time, trailing 8 points behind the second Arka.
Although 'GieKSa' has been regularly in the upper part of the table, and it was seen as a likely candidate for the promotion play-off (places 3 to 6) - throughout the season they were never in the direct promotion zone. Until the final whistle of their final game of the season was blown, that is...
A fantastic left-footed curved strike from outside the box by Katowice's Adrian Błąd put the visitors up front in the 26h minute - and despite Arka's 13 efforts and 5 shots on target across the game - the score held till it was all over.
For GKS Katowice - it's a return to Ekstraklasa after 19 long years, as they were relegated from the top flight in the 2004/2005 season - and a bankruptcy followed, forcing them to dissolve and restart from the fourth tier of Polish football.
Before that, however, the 1964-found club enjoyed a successful time in the 1980s and 1990s. 'GieKSa' are a four-time runner-up of Poland's top league (1988, 1989, 1992, 1994), they won the Polish Cup thrice (1986, 1991, 1993), and claimed the Polish SuperCup twice (1991, 1995). They also made their mark internationally, reaching the 1/8 finals of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1987 and 1992, and getting to the adequate stage of the UEFA Cup in 1995.
Meanwhile, for the seaside Gdynia's club - it is a sad history repeating, as for the second consecutive season another team celebrates winning the promotion to Ekstraklasa at Arka's stadium. A year ago, an away draw in Gdynia in the penultimate round of Fotruna 1. Liga earned a spot in Poland's football elite for ŁKS Łódź.
All is not lost for Arka, though, and they can still salvage this season - as the 3rd place they finished at means that they will continue their Ekstraklasa promotion battle in the two-stage play-offs. First, they will face-off against the 6th-placed Odra Opole at home - and if they win, in the play-off final they will meet the victor of the duel between the 4th Motor Lublin and the 5th Górnik Łęczna.
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