Budějovice – Liberec 4:1, Motor ends their losing streak and it’s not the last

South Bohemians start with Strmenì in goal, Hrachovina remains on the bench. Gazda was presented to the domestic audience for the first time. Liberec’s coaches only sent three fives early in the match, but their boys in no way surprised the home side by trying to set a fast pace.

On the contrary, they soon slowed down with the first expulsion. The home team played an unremarkable power play, but gradually regained activity and opened the scoring midway through the first period. Vráblík didn’t shoot at the blue line at all, but after Stencel’s second pass he was already aiming accurately. Then Přikryl and Čachotský also had significant chances.

The guests start the second half better. A quick equalizer was set up by Najman from close range, who was passed to Faško-Rudáš with a backhand after hugging the goal from behind. Just before half-time, South Bohemians took the lead again. Three seconds after a penalty from Liberec’s Kolmann, Gazda disarmed his opponent and overtook Kváča with a long-range shot from the center of the pitch. Faško-Rudáš came close to equalizing in the 37th minute, but Strmeň happily blocked his shot from the right with hard concrete.

At the beginning of the third set they didn’t take advantage of the hosts’ fifth power play. Then the guests settled in the offensive zone, but Kolmann didn’t convert a great chance. Subsequently, Rychlovský was sent off for an unnecessary foul in the central zone, České Budějovice squandered the sixth numerical advantage, but three seconds after his deadline, Štencel scored the third goal with a swing from the left circle.

Less than a minute later, Dzierkals added his fourth goal, which reached down the left side around the post and sent the puck into the opposite post from a tricky angle. Karabáček also sent in a dangerous shot, but the score didn’t change.