Defending Polish Cup holder Górnik Zabrze survived a grueling 120-minute scoreless battle against Piast Gliwice on October 27, 2026, advancing to the round of 16 after a 3–1 victory in a chaotic penalty shootout. Playing at the Stadion Miejski in Gliwice, the reigning champions struggled to break down a resilient Piast side before goalkeeper Tomasz Loska sealed the result by stopping two spot-kicks.

Górnik Survives Penalty Drama in Gliwice

The 1/16 final clash offered little rhythm during regulation time as both Silesian rivals canceled each other out. Przegląd Sportowy reported that Górnik entered the fixture as the Ekstraklasa runner-up on an eight-match unbeaten run, yet found themselves neutralized by a disciplined Piast team sitting sixth in the league standings. Just nine days prior, the two sides had played to a 1–1 draw in domestic league action.

The first half saw prolonged delays after supporters ignited flares near the 30-minute mark, forcing referee Damian Sylwestrzak to halt proceedings until visibility cleared, which contributed to a 12-minute stoppage at the end of the half. Piast controlled 54 percent of possession before the break, but Górnik created the sharper openings. Domen Gril, starting in goal for Piast, denied Kacper Urbański and Erik Prekop with crucial stops, while Jarosław Kubicki missed the target from promising positions.

Gasparik Substitutions Fail to Break Piast Deadlock

Dissatisfied with his side’s sluggish opening, Górnik coach Michal Gasparik made three halftime substitutions, introducing Sondre Liseth, Peter Federico, and Zeidane Inoussa. The tactical shakeup sparked a frantic quarter-hour of pressure from the visitors. Liseth bundled the ball across the line in the 78th minute, but the effort was immediately chalked off for offside.

Piast responded swiftly when Quentin Boisgard hit the post from close range, and Hugo Vallejo failed to convert the rebound. Extra time offered further fatigue rather than breakthrough goals. Leandro Sanca missed a golden header for Piast in the 100th minute, expertly parried by Loska, while Górnik’s Ondrej Zmrzly rattled the goalpost with a low distance strike in the 120th minute, leaving the scoreboard blank after two hours of play.

Loska Shines in Chaotic Shootout

The ensuing penalty shootout proved decisive as Górnik prevailed 3–1 behind the heroics of 30-year-old goalkeeper Tomasz Loska, who made his first start of the year. Piast’s opening takers faltered under pressure. Kacper Urbański saw his initial penalty saved by Gril, before Jakub Łabojko attempted a Panenka chip that rolled tamely into Loska’s arms. Loska then parried an effort from Hugo Vallejo, and Juande Rivas fired his shot over the crossbar to end the contest.

SportoweFakty confirmed the final penalty sequence that sent the holders through: Urbański missed, Łabojko missed, Rafał Janicki scored, Samuel Ntamack converted, Erik Janža scored, Vallejo missed, Paulo Bernardo netted, and Rivas sent his final attempt high.

Upcoming Fixtures for Silesian Rivals

With the cup drama behind them, Górnik Zabrze turns its attention back to a demanding domestic schedule, preparing to face Legia Warszawa in a crucial league match. Meanwhile, Piast Gliwice returns to Ekstraklasa competition aiming to maintain its strong autumn form following a narrow exit from the national tournament.