Commercial presentation Updated: 13/08/2024 22:37 Issued: 13/08/2024, 22:35
Sparta Prague – FCSB (Romania), opening match of the 3rd preliminary round of the Champions League, August 6, 2024, Prague. From left, Risto Radunović from FCSB and Veljko Birmančević from Sparta. CTK/Kamaryt Michal
Bucharest – Sparta’s footballers advanced to the final 4th qualifying 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.
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Reklama
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.
“I didn’t think about penalties after the goal to make it 2:3. I had a lot of things going through my mind, but the most important thing was to stay calm and fix what didn’t go well. I’m very proud of all the Spartans because they’ve suffered for many years. We’re not in the Champions League yet , but we are closer,” Sparta’s Danish coach Lars Friis said at a press conference.
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. Until the end of the season, the Praguers will miss the Spanish defender or midfielder García, who injured the cruciate ligament in his knee.
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 transformed her without any problems. The Serbian winger scored his fifth goal in the competitive season and his sixth two-goal match in Sparta’s jersey.
“I concentrated on scoring a goal. It was a very important moment, I took responsibility because I wanted it. I was lucky and I thank God because I scored,” said Birmančević.
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.
“For me, every goal for Sparta is the most important and the most beautiful. I am very happy that I helped the team win with this goal,” said Haraslín.
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. “In the first half, when we lost 0:3, we made it significantly more difficult. The boys then reacted correctly and performed well. We managed to score two goals and we were close to the third, which would have sent us into extra time. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen to us it failed and it’s over,” said home coach Elias Charalambous.
Post-match votes:
Elias Charalambus (FCSB coach): “Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to the 4th preliminary round of the Champions League. After the first half, in which we lost 0:3, we made it significantly more complicated. We knew Sparta was good from set pieces, so we got the first goal, then we conceded from the penalty spot. The boys reacted well in the second half. We managed to score two goals and we were close to the third one. Unfortunately we didn’t do it and it’s over with the Romanian league leagues where we’ll try to get promoted.”
Lars Friis (Sparta coach): “I didn’t think about penalties after the goal at 2:3. A lot of things were going through my head, but the most important thing was to stay calm and do what didn’t go well. I’m very proud of all the Spartans, because they suffered for many years. We’re not in the Champions League yet, but we’re closer. We played too low in the second half. All three defenders did great.”
Veljko Birmančevič (winger and scorer of two goals for Sparta): “The final was stressful for me because I wasn’t on the field. When you’re playing, it’s easier, you feel different. We struggled a bit in the last 10 minutes, but we showed a good mentality and won, which is the most important thing. We took another step on the way to the Champions League.”
Lukáš Haraslín (winger and scorer of Sparta’s third goal): “For me, every goal for Sparta is the most important and the most beautiful. I am very happy that I helped the team win with this goal. We are very happy that we played today on a very difficult terrain. I’m happy to advance to the playoffs.”
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.
Assemblies:
FCSB: Tarnovanu – Cretu, Dawa, Ngezana, Radunovič – Sut (46. Edjouma), Lixandru (71. Alhassan) – Stefanescu (46. Baeten), Olaru, Baluta (46. Popa) – Miculescu. Trainer: Charalambous.
Sparta: Vindahl – Vitík, Sörensen, Zelený – Preciado (53. Wiesner), Laci (84. Sadílek), Kairinen, Ryneš – Birmančevič (83. Solbakken), Haraslín (68. Daněk) – Olatunji (68. Kuchta). Coach: Friis.
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