This was supposed to be a completely different article. Even a draw at Parken, which Jagiellonia managed to secure after Afimico Pululu’s goal and hold onto for several minutes, would have been gladly accepted by the Polish champions. Copenhagen pushed with all their might, creating further chances, but as everyone was already packing up at Parken and the frustration of the hosts was reaching its peak, something happened that exceeded everyone’s expectations. Just moments earlier, German Onugkha had missed a good header opportunity, which brought a groan of despair from the stands, but could have just as easily given Copenhagen the three points.
Irish referee Robert Harvey was ready to blow the final whistle when Sławomir Abramowicz cleared the ball, Taras Romanczuk alertly gathered the second ball, and Afimico Pululu skillfully passed it to Darko Czurlinow, who found himself in a clean position. For the Macedonian, that moment might have felt like an eternity, but with a calm, low shot, he managed to surprise Nathan Trott, and moments later, he sprinted in euphoria toward the section of Białystok fans. He lost control, as did his teammates, who along with the reserves and staff, ran toward him with all their strength. It was a shock! Parken fell silent, with only a few hundred people in one corner of the field celebrating wildly. This is a moment Jagiellonia fans will remember for the rest of their lives.
Jagiellonia lost their defensive leader and conceded an early goal. It didn’t seem like this would end well
The Białystok club debuted in the league phase (previously the group stage) of European competitions in the best way possible, and after what happened to Jagiellonia Białystok in their away matches against Bodo/Glimt and Ajax Amsterdam, it was hard to be optimistic. After all, the Białystok players were facing FC Copenhagen at Parken. This opponent had managed to reach the round of 16 in the Champions League last season, and they had not lost at home this season.
There was no doubt who the favorite was, but this time, the Polish champions approached the match in Copenhagen after three consecutive league wins, where they played more strategically and wisely than before. This was supposed to help at Parken as well. "We’re starting with a tough challenge. Copenhagen is our strongest opponent, but maybe that’s a good thing. We want to show that the matches we’ve played so far have given us valuable experience," said coach Adrian Siemieniec at the press conference.
And although one of the local journalists called the UEFA Europa Conference League the "Mickey Mouse Cup," likely referencing Kamil Kosowski, Copenhagen did not underestimate Jagiellonia and fielded their strongest lineup. Meanwhile, the Polish champions suffered a setback right before the game, as Adrian Siemieniec lost his unquestioned defensive leader - Mateusz Skrzypczak, called up to the national team, sustained a minor muscle injury.
A strong opponent playing at their fortress, and an already shaky Jagiellonia defense, now without its leader - such a combination predicted big trouble, right?
Shock at Parken, Czurlinow's buzzer-beater! Jagiellonia pulled off a massive upset
But even more trouble seemed likely at the start of the match, as Jagiellonia was caught off guard in the simplest way. The hosts scored from a corner kick, with Pantelis Hatzidiakos giving them the lead in the 12th minute. But even though the statistics didn’t reflect it - Jagiellonia hadn’t had a single shot before halftime - it was a different game for them compared to those in Bodo and Amsterdam. They weren’t as dominated, and they managed to threaten the opposition’s defense, often just lacking the decision to shoot. Adrian Siemieniec’s players were determined to find better options, but this proved to be a mistake as it often ended in losses.
Copenhagen had more chances and could have extended their lead, but they didn’t, and as they went into halftime with a 1-0 scoreline, there was no sense that the game was only going to end one way.
This was confirmed after the break, as in the 51st minute, Marcin Listkowski and Joao Moutinho combined on the left side of the field, with the Portuguese player sending a low cross to Afimico Pululu, who finished with an impressive backheel to equalize. Parken was shocked for the first time.
The hosts hit the back of Sławomir Abramowicz’s net twice, but both times it was after plays preceded by clear offsides. Goals by Mohamed Elyounoussi and Elias Achouri couldn’t stand, and anyone watching closely from a good vantage point knew it. In the closing stages, there were two good headed chances for the hosts, but the ball just wouldn’t find its way into Jagi’s net. And then came the "buzzer-beater" from Darko Czurlinow.
The "new" Jagiellonia won again. Once more proving that "the sky is the limit"
Jagiellonia played differently than before. And for the fourth consecutive time, they won, making a giant step toward the knockout phase of the UEFA Europa Conference League. Now, they’ll be facing opponents weaker than Copenhagen, and while Norwegian side Molde still seems like a stronger team than the Polish champions, Jaga should regularly pick up points against the other teams.
After the final whistle, Jagiellonia’s fans celebrated with the team for a long time, and they also sent their regards to coach Adrian Siemieniec, sporting director Łukasz Masłowski, and especially president Wojciech Pertkiewicz, who announced during the week that he would be leaving the club at the end of the year. Once again, their Jagiellonia showed that "the sky is the limit." After all, who would have expected this scenario a year and a half ago when the team was desperately fighting relegation?
