Wisla show command of WIT
Tuesday, 27 July 2004
By Vakhtang Bzikadze at the Boris Paichadze stadium
[1] Wisla Kraków scored eight goals for the first time in any of their 61 European ties as they returned from FC WIT Georgia with an overwhelming victory in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round tie.
Record defeat
[2] It was some contrast to the Polish champions' UEFA Cup exit last year, where they drew both legs of their tie with Vålerenga IF 0-0 before losing on penalties. The result was also the heaviest defeat ever inflicted on a Georgian club in European competition
Frankowski scores four
[3] WIT coach Merab Kochlashvili had decided to go for broke and field an attacking lineup, but his side were caught out especially after they adopted even more positive tactics after falling behind in Tbilisi. Within five minutes the visitors were 2-0 up with Tomasz Frankowski scoring the first two of a personal four-goal haul.
Lead stretched
[4] On 13 minutes WIT defender Tengiz Kobiashvili headed in from a corner to reduce arrears, but midway through the half Damian Gorawski chipped in Wisla's third and Frankowski completed his hat-trick two minutes later with a long-range lob. WIT held on until the break, but six minutes into the second half Frankowski was on target yet again, though seconds later Georgi Adamia pulled one back.
Zurawski double
[5] Still, Wisla were not finished and captain Maciej Zurawski scored on 58 and 67 minutes to stretch the lead before substitute Marcin Kuzba turned in a low cross to extend his side's advantage to 8-2 - a lead that will require WIT to pull off an unheard-of comeback to turn the tie in Poland next Wednesday.