“Futsal Match Report: Pilsen Upsets Bookmakers Favorite Chrudim in Shootout”

“I know that the guys talked about the fact that the bookmakers have Chrudim as their favorite, although I don’t understand why. We have a better record lately, we went to the playoffs from first place, we started at home, and anyway people believed more in Chrudim. Maybe after this season, Pilsen will finally start to be taken seriously. There is simply another contender for titles,” said Pilsen goalkeeper Ondřej Vahala on the YouTube channel of the Futsal Association.

The Pilsen team opened the scoring in the 13th minute thanks to Rick, and moments later, Vnuk added after a big mistake by Koudelka’s national team teammate.

However, Chrudim unexpectedly dominated the second half. In its opening, he reduced Buchto with an own goal and in the 37th minute on the power play, Pett equalized.

No goals were scored during extra time and the home side were better in the shootout. The Pilsen goalkeeper Vahala neutralized two attempts by the opponent, and the substitute of the veteran goalkeeper Gerčák did not help the guests either. Vnuk converted the decisive penalty.

Chrudim, the most successful team in Czech history, did not follow up on last season, when they beat Pilsen 3:1 in the final series and won the fifteenth title.

“We entered the second half the way we should have played all three games from the beginning. We pushed Pilsen and didn’t let them into anything for the whole half. I dare to say that we were better. Then it was over in extra time, nobody wants make a mistake. And the penalties were a lottery. We didn’t lose today, but in the first two matches,” said Chrudim captain Matěj Slováček.