The football players of Pilsen won the first match of the new season of Fortuna: League. The defending champions defeated Opava 3: 1 on their field.
The guests went after Aleš Čermák did not give a penalty, thanks to Helešice to the lead, but even before the end of the first half he evened Buch from another penalty. Matěj Hrabina from Opava was expelled in front of her.
The results of the match were then decided by the goals. by Jean-David Beauguel and Adriel Ba Loua. Due to two cases of coronavirus in the West Bohemia, it was not clear until the last moment whether the pre-recording of the first round will take place today.
“Our opponent could punish us, which would hurt us much more. The victory is valuable, but we had better work and better handling things that were definitely out of our control. Especially in the first half,” said Pilsen coach Adrian Guľa on press conference.
Tests near Pilsen on Wednesday revealed one infected player; during Thursday’s check-ups, covid-19 also appeared in a member of a wider implementation team who, like the first unnamed person, was isolated. Today’s third round of tests did not reveal another positive case, and Viktoria was able to start thanks to the recent relaxation of the quarantine rules for sports.
“When it hit us, then repeatedly and still waited, it was disruptive. But I don’t want it to be a crutch for us, that we had a slower first half for these things,” Guľa said.
The guests created a huge chance after 30 seconds of the game. Holík caught Brabc’s unsuccessful “small home”, put the goalkeeper Hruška down and found Texl, but he only hit the stopper Hejda on the goal line.
The second team of the last league year did not get to the first bigger opportunity until the 37th minute. Rychlý came in from the right.
“We entered the match well, we played actively and got into the goal opportunity. Then we survived an unnecessary penalty, which was at hand. Čermák did not change it, so we were still breathing,” said the assistant of the Opava coach Radoslav Kováč.
In the 44th minute, he sent Slezany to the surprising lead of Helešice, who took advantage of Mondek’s center. Shortly afterwards, however, Hrabin tripped the escaping Kovařík in the lime, and referee Denev awarded the Opava defender a red card after reviewing the situation on video. He converted the second Pilsen penalty just before the Bucha break.
“After that goal, however, there immediately came a loss of concentration, a long kick for the defense – a penalty plus a red card. The match broke there, in my opinion this decided,” Kováč pointed out.
The people of Pilsen also entered the second half well. Hejd was caught by Fendrich, but the Frenchman Beauguel matured already in the 55th minute.
The home team had the upper hand over the weakened opponent and reached for the third goal. Kopic still missed an open goal, but his substitute Ba Loua increased the score to 3 – 1 shortly after arriving at the pitch in the 76th minute after Limber’s pass “šajtlí”. A moment later, the summer reinforcement from Karviná threw away another great opportunity.
“I’m glad I made a good first impression, which is always important. My goal was a bonus, I’m happy for the team’s victory,” said Ivory Coast wing Ba Loua. In the end, Hejda almost scored his own goal, who headed for the bar.
The Pilsen team defeated Opava for the fifth time in a row in the highest competition and won the ninth competition duel in a row at home. On the contrary, the Slezanians extended the wait for the outdoor league victory to 17 matches.
1st round of the first football league:
Viktoria Plzen – SFC Opava 3: 1 (1: 1)
Goals: 45. + 4 Bucha z pen., 55. Beauguel, 76. Ba Loua – 44. Helešic. Judges: Denev – Voluntary, Hock – Adam (video). ZK: Mondek. ČK: 45. + 3 Hrabina (both Opava). Attendance: 2813 (limit 5102 people at the stadium).
Plzeň: Hruška – Řezník (46. Havel), Hejda, Brabec, Limberský (83. Alvir) – Čermák, Kalvach, Bucha (83. Káčer) – Kopic (74. Ba Loua), Chorý (42. Beauguel), Kovařík. Coach: Ball.
Opava: Fendrich – Žídek, Hnaníček (30. Rychlý), Hrabina – Řezníček, Texl (46. Harazim) – Mondek (64. Juřena), Zavadil (64. Gorčica), Helešic – Dordič, Holík (74. Šcudla). Coach: Jumped.
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