Poland’s Ekstraklasa delivered heartbreak for Latvian international Vladislavs Gutkovskis and Arka Gdynia, whose late collapse against league bottom side Termalica Bruk-Bet ended in a painful 2-3 defeat and confirmed the club’s relegation after only one season back in the top flight.
The 31-year-old Latvian striker started in what was a must-win clash for Arka, who hosted Gutkovskis’ former club Termalica Bruk-Bet – the team he represented between 2015 and 2020. The stakes were clear before kickoff: a win or draw would have kept survival hopes alive heading into the final round, while defeat would mathematically relegate Arka to Poland’s second division.
The visitors struck first already in the 11th minute when Damian Hilbrycht fired home from outside the penalty area to put already relegated Termalica ahead 1-0.
Arka, however, responded just before halftime. After a quick attacking transition, Edu Espiau finished from close range following a cross into the penalty area, sending the home supporters into celebration and levelling the score at 1-1 heading into the break.
The momentum stayed with the hosts after halftime and soon Gutkovskis produced what looked to be a potentially season-saving moment. In the 52nd minute the Latvian striker collected the ball outside the penalty area before curling a precise left-footed effort into the far corner, scoring his fourth goal of the season since joining Arka from South Korea during the winter transfer window.
But Arka failed to hold onto their advantage. In the 74th minute Termalica equalised from a corner kick as defender Arkadiusz Kasperkiewicz beat the goalkeeper at the near post to make it 2-2. Even then the result still left Arka with mathematical survival hopes ahead of the final round.
Those hopes were ultimately destroyed deep into stoppage time. In the third added minute Termalica launched a rapid counterattack, breaking two-versus-one after a long pass forward. Ivan Durdov calmly finished through the goalkeeper’s legs to silence the stadium and officially confirm Arka Gdynia’s relegation from the Ekstraklasa.
Gutkovskis played the full match and now has four goals and one assist in 15 league appearances for Arka since arriving earlier this year.
The Latvian forward still has one final league match left with Arka Gdynia before the season concludes, with the club travelling next weekend to face another of Gutkovskis’ former Polish teams – Raków.
