Sparta footballers advanced to the final 4th preliminary round of the Champions League. After a 1:1 draw at home, today they won 3:2 at the field of Romanian FCSB. They will face Malmö for the first participation in the main stage of the “millionaire” competition after 19 years. They will play their first game next week in Sweden. The Czech champions are at least certain of the European League, in which they reached the round of 16 last season.
Letenští scored all three goals in Bucharest already in the first half. Veljko Birmančevič scored twice, one of them from the penalty spot, Lukáš Haraslín added another hit. In the second half, however, the guests made their way to progress more complicated. First, after an hour of play, Darius Olara brought down and in the 85th minute, substitute Malcom Edjouma added another goal for the home team. The Praguers resisted the final pressure of their opponents.
Sparta defeated FCSB in the cups for the first time at the sixth attempt and avenged their eight-year-old elimination in the 3rd preliminary round of the Champions League. She did not lose even in the eighth competitive match of the season, of which she won the seventh.
Due to the summer concerts, FCSB is not currently playing at the National Stadium, but at the smaller Steaua Stadium, which was completely filled with spectators today. The match was watched by 28,875 fans.
In Sparta’s starting line-up, Olatunji replaced Kuchta, who equalized 1:1 in the opening match a week ago. The guests started actively and scored in the 13th minute. Captain Sörensen’s header from Haraslín’s corner center was still stopped by Lixandra on the goal line, but Birmančević made no mistake from the crossbar.
At the opposite end, Ngezana headed into Vindahl’s gloves. The Danish goalkeeper then found Olatunji with a long throw, whose shot was covered by Tarnovanu.
In the 26th minute, Dawa fouled Olatunji in a header and referee Krogh, after some hesitation, awarded a penalty. Birmančević took on the responsibility, and he transformed it without any problems. The Serbian winger scored his fifth goal in the competitive season and his sixth two-goal match in Sparta’s jersey.
In the 37th minute, Birmančević’s cross found Haraslín in the box and he added a third goal for the guests with a good shot at the far post. The Slovakian representative scored the second competitive goal of the season. From the Spartan sector, where there were over 170 fans, chants of “fuck them” began to be heard.
Shortly after, Olatunji headed over from Haraslín’s cross. Haraslín ended the subsequent combination action with a shot into the side net.
After an hour of play, captain Olara was brought down with a shot from behind the box. The home team created optical pressure in places, but they could not gain a foothold for a long time. But in the 85th minute, Olaru crossed into the penalty area and substitute Edjouma put FCSB in range with his head. However, in the five-minute setup, Sparta did not allow an equalizer and celebrated the promotion.
FCSB has lost at home in the cups after four games and awaits the qualification of the Europa League with Linz.
FCSB – Sparta Prague 2:3 (0:3)
Goals: 60. Olaru, 85. Edjouma – 13. and 28. from pen. Birmančevič, 37. Haraslín. Referees: Krogh – Rasmussen, Bramsen (all Danish) – Van Boekel (video, Dutch). ŽK: Olaru, Baluta, Charalambous (coach), Lixandra, Tarnovanu – Preciado, Sörensen, Birmančevič, Kuchta, Friis (coach). Spectators: 28.875. First match: 1:1, Sparta advanced.
FCSB: Tarnovanu – Cretu, Dawa, Ngezana, Radunovič – Sut (46. Edjouma), Lixandru (71. Alhassan) – Stefanescu (46. Baeten), Olaru, Baluta (46. Popa) – Miculescu. Coach: Charalambus.
Sparta: Vindahl – Vitík, Sörensen, Zelený – Preciado (53. Wiesner), Laci (84. Sadílek), Kairinen, Ryneš – Birmančevič (83. Solbakken), Haraslín (68. Daněk) – Olatunji (68. Kuchta). Coach: Friis.
