MŠK Žilina kicked off the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League at home against Polish side Katowice. The visitors made the brighter start, but the Šošoni gradually took control and eventually turned the game around.

Captain Miroslav Káčer levelled the score from the penalty spot before Timotej Hranica secured a one-goal advantage for the return leg with the winner in the second half. One week on from beating Hajduk Split, the Šošoni celebrated another 2:1 victory.

The second leg in Poland is scheduled for next Thursday. Before then, however, the Šošoni will open their 2026/27 Niké Liga campaign on Sunday, welcoming Košice to the Stadium under the Dubeň hill in a replay of last season’s cup final. Kick-off is at 17:00 CEST, with tickets already on sale.

Head coach Pavol Staňo made just one change to the starting XI from the side that faced Hajduk Split a week earlier, underlining the team’s desire to build on that performance. The switch involved our Polish midfielder Fabian Bzdyl, who replaced Xavi Adang in the centre of the park.

Just as against Hajduk, the Stadium under the Dubeň hill was buzzing with noise and energy. The opening moments belonged to the visitors. Their first set piece came to nothing, but they made the most of the second. A corner was delivered into the six-yard box, where Arkadiusz Klemenz rose highest to head Katowice into an early lead. The Šošoni responded and began to take control. Our first big chance arrived in the 17th minute when Patrik Iľko led a counter-attack and picked out Jenci Bario on the far side, but the winger was denied by goalkeeper Dawid Kobylak. Moments later, Fero Kóša also tested the Katowice keeper, who once again came out on top. The visitors were already looking to slow the game down, but it did not help them in the 29th minute. Following a scramble in the box, Marko Roginić was brought down and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. With no VAR available, it was a clear and correct decision. Captain Miroslav Káčer kept his nerve, sending the ball in off the post to level the score at 1:1. The equaliser lifted both the team and the crowd. Bario had another opportunity, while Iľko came close with one of his trademark curling efforts from distance. Before the interval, Bzdyl also found space for a shot, but could not direct it on target.

The turnaround arrived almost immediately after the halftime break. Žilina came flying out of the dressing room and struck in the 47th minute. Kóša's left-footed effort was parried by Kobylak, but Timotej Hranica reacted quickest to fire home the rebound and spark another goal celebration under the Dubeň hill. With the lead secured, the Šošoni controlled the match and even came close to extending their advantage. Káčer saw an effort clip the outside of the post, while Katowice struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. Goalkeeper Badžgoň remained alert whenever called into action, and the back line stood firm as the visitors pushed for an equaliser. The closing stages became more fragmented as a series of substitutions disrupted the rhythm of the game. Katowice grew into the contest again and spent more time in our half, but the defence held strong. The final chance fell to substitute Andrei Florea, whose promising run did not lead to a third goal.For the second week in a row, the Šošoni celebrated a 2:1 victory. It gives Žilina the edge heading into next Thursday’s return leg in Poland, though only a narrow one.

Before then, attention turns back to domestic action. On Sunday, the Šošoni begin their 2026/27 Niké Liga campaign by hosting Košice at the Stadium under the Dubeň hill in a replay of last season’s cup final. Kick-off is at 17:00 CEST, with tickets already on sale.

Post-match reactions