Both teams came into the final matchday with the clear objective of securing a place in the top 24 of the league phase. Considering the high stakes, it was unsurprising to see the two teams play out a tentative opening half-hour, where Taofeek Ismaheel’s drive wide of Jan Koutny’s far post was the only real chance of note.
As it proved, the game’s first shot on target produced the opening goal, albeit in controversial circumstances. A Sigma defender was left lying on the floor after challenging for a high ball that eventually found its way to Ishak in the left corner of the box.
The Lech skipper controlled with his first touch and produced a sweetly struck shot with his second, sending an unstoppable effort looping over the helpless Koutny.
Matters got worse for the hosts when Abdoulaye Sylla’s clumsy foul left the referee Patrik Kolaric with no other option than to point to the spot.
Koutny initially bailed out his teammate with a smart strop from Luis Palma’s initial spot-kick, only for Ishak to thump home the retake after VAR had spotted encroachment.
After establishing a two-goal half-time lead, Ishak was then presented with the chance to complete his hat-trick in the early stages of the second period when another rash Sylla challenge resulted in a spot-kick.
However, unlike the first period, Koutny correctly guessed the direction of Ishak’s penalty, springing to his right to make a strong stop to keep his side’s faint hopes of a comeback alive.
Just moments later, the busy referee pointed to the spot for a dangerous challenge at the opposite end of the pitch before the assistant’s raised flag allowed Lech to breathe a sigh of relief.
The Polish club looked set to coast through to the finish line until Jan Kral glanced home an 84th-minute header from Tihomir Kostadinov’s delivery.
However, it ultimately proved too little, too late for Tomas Janotka’s charges on the night, but they made the top 24 by the skin of their teeth.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Mikael Ishak (Lech Poznan)