Stal Mielec vs Sandecja Nowy Sącz

Odolak's 14th-minute goal proved decisive in a game defined by heavy rotation. With both coaches prioritising fitness minutes over result, the early strike allowed Stal Mielec to control the tempo in the first half and protect their lead after the interval. Sandecja never found an equaliser despite Płocica's persistent work up front.

Kamil Odolak (Stal Mielec) — The forward's 14th-minute goal decided the match. He looked sharp in the first half and was withdrawn at the break along with the entire starting XI, the typical pattern of a pre-season run-out.

Mateusz Jeleń (Stal Mielec) — The trialist goalkeeper, on loan from Sandecja Nowy Sącz according to 90minut.pl, kept a clean sheet in the first half. An interesting subplot given his parent club was the opposition.

Marcel Płocica (Sandecja Nowy Sącz) — The forward played the full match across both halves, a rare constant in a game of constant substitutions. He led Sandecja's attacking line throughout but couldn't find a way past the Stal Mielec defence.

Player of the Match: Kamil Odolak

This was the opening friendly of pre-season for both sides. Stal Mielec enter the 2026/27 campaign in Poland's I liga (second tier) after finishing 18th in the Ekstraklasa last season with 10 wins, 6 draws and 18 losses from 34 matches, resulting in relegation alongside Śląsk Wrocław. They lost their previous friendly 5-1 to Podhale Nowy Targ on 1 July, making this a clear step forward.

Sandecja Nowy Sącz remain in II liga (third tier) after finishing the 2025/26 regular season with 15 wins, 13 draws and 8 losses. They narrowly missed promotion to I liga, losing 3-1 to Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała in the promotion playoff final. This friendly continues their build-up to the new season.

Both sides used multiple trialists — Stal Mielec gave run-outs to Mateusz Jeleń (Sandecja), Bartłomiej Kukułowicz (Stal Stalowa Wola), Szymon Rygiel (Śląsk Wrocław), Piotr Starzyński (Wisła Kraków) and Michael Wyparło (Siarka Tarnobrzeg), as confirmed by 90minut.pl.

A typical early pre-season friendly — low intensity, high rotation, and settled by a single first-half strike. Odolak's goal was the only moment of genuine quality in a match that served its fitness purpose for two Polish sides rebuilding after very different 2025/26 seasons. Stal Mielec will take more encouragement from the clean sheet than the scoreline.