DIRECT FROM KOŠICE | Sixteen years, the first start since the beginning for league A in a key duel. Moreover, on the European stage in an absolutely essential match for the development of the entire season. The reaction of Pilsen jewel Jiří Panoš at the unexpected premiere in Košice? The young midfielder scored a wonderful goal against Kryvbas, with which he significantly supported Pilsen in the fight for promotion to the European autumn. Daniel Vašulín also scored and Viktoria won 2:1 in the opening match of the 3rd preliminary round of the European League. He is taking an excellent result into the home rematch.
Pilsen played away, a crucial duel for Europe against a dangerous, heated opponent. However, coach Miroslav Koubek and his colleagues made a risky move. He only took sixteen-year-old Jiří Panoš to the base. The enormous talent of Viktoria and the discovery of the summer training, after which he surprisingly remained in the first team squad.
The Pilsen coach hinted at the press conference the day before the match that he was thinking about a change. He didn’t like the offense at the start of the season, which made him change his strategy. Against Kryvbas, Matěj Vydra was at the helm, under him was Pavel Šulc and one of the biggest Czech football talents.
Tonight’s goal, sixteen-year-old Jiří Panoš introduced himself on the European stage 👏👍🚀 pic.twitter.com/jM5F8mDjSP
— Jonáš Bartoš (@jbartos66) August 8, 2024
“It’s some kind of joke, to use a sixteen-year-old boy,” Ukrainian journalists present asked the editor of Sport before kick-off.
During the match, they understood that it was definitely not a joke. At the beginning of the second half, the squire launched a grenade from his left behind the goal, an uncatchable rocket, and the ball fluttered in the net. The Pilsen bench was on its feet, including boss Adolfo Šádek, who was watching the match in the stands near the lawn. The youngest member of the squad pulled the thorn out of the team’s heel when it had a crisis first half against Kryvbas.
The Squire himself had to deal with difficult moments. The most important outcome of the youngster’s debut in the Pilsen base from the first half was a mistake before the first goal. In the 20th minute, he left a running Dibang behind him on the right side, whose accurate cross was completed by the shooter Ada, and Pilsen lost. In addition, the squire received a yellow card soon after for an offensive foul.
There was an offer to leave the newcomer in the lineup in the dressing room at halftime, but the Pilsen coaches kept their gem. The bland Vydra went to the showers, summer reinforcement Daniel Vašulín operated in his place. The squire has repaid the entire club for their trust with the goal of his career so far, which can rule the cuts in the ongoing European Cup qualifiers.
The equalizing goal woke up Viktiorija, after the break she looked significantly better on the field. Pavel Šulc had a clear goal on the kick, but his attempt on the ground was covered by a timely run-out by goalkeeper Andrij Kliščuk. The blond offensive midfielder then started a wonderful individual action, which was ended by substitute Daniel Vašulín with a goal in the 2:1 victory.
Viktoria takes home a valuable win, while she was unable to react to the unfavorable development in Košice for a long time, she did not shoot on goal during the first half. Vydra had the most outstanding moment, but his header went high above. The West Bohemians also survived several moments of crisis during the second half, when substitute goalkeeper Marián Tvrdonň kept the team going.
Before Panoš’s epic moment came, Viktoria was struggling, seemed incoherent, with an overly spread out pitch. Paradoxically, a man with zero European experience took responsibility and helped his teammates significantly. When he released Tom Slončík on the field in the 64th minute, the cauldron of approximately 200 Pilsen fans in the corner of the stand loudly called out his name.
Pilsen rejoices and celebrates a new hero. Jiří Panoš entered the scene. A young man to whom you can quickly get used to in the West Bohemian jersey.
Goals
Guests: 48. Squire, 69. Vasulin
Assemblies
Home: Klischuk – Ponědělnik, Romančuk, Steckov, Dibango – Kuzyk (66. Drambajev), Bizimana, Vakulko (C) (81. Amoroso), Tverdochlib (55. Lunov), Mykytyšyn (66. Sosah) – Adu (81. Kozuško).
Guests: Tvrdoň – Dweh, Hranáč, Jemelka – Havel (90. Mosquera), Červ (90+5 Sojka), Kalvach (C), Kopic – Šulc (90. Jirka), Panoš (64. Slončík) – Vydra (46. Vašulín) .
Cards
Home: Adu, Bamboo, Vaculko
Guests: Squire, Vašulin
Referee
Gishamer – Riedel, carpenter (všichni AUT)
Stadium
Košice football arena, Košice
