Sparta Prague Defeats FC Copenhagen 2-0 in Pre-Season Match: Olatunji and Kuchta Secure Victory

In the first preparatory match before the start of the spring season, Sparta’s players beat FC Copenhagen 2:0 at the Summer Round of 16. Victor Olatunji decided the replay of August’s 3rd preliminary round of the “millionaire” competition, in which the defending Danish champions advanced in the away rematch on penalties, in the 17th minute, Jan Kuchta added the insurance after the change of sides. From the 26th minute, the guests played without the suspended Denis Vavro.

“We wanted to play an even match. I’m very happy that Copenhagen flew here. I’m sorry that they received a red card in the first half. It spoiled the meaning of the match a little. It wasn’t the best solution for either team. The referee made that decision. It’s official pre-match, so Copenhagen could not add players. We tried to adapt to it and get the best out of it physically and tactically,” Sparta Denmark coach Brian Priske said at a press conference.

The reigning Czech champions entered both halves in completely different lineups. The two winter reinforcements also presented themselves in the Praguers’ jersey. Norwegian midfielder Solbakken scored in the first half, Albanian striker Tuci in the second half. 11,011 spectators arrived at Letná.

Thank you Spartans!#acsparta pic.twitter.com/4RrDQRRGNl

— AC Sparta Praha (@ACSparta_CZ) January 20, 2024

The main referee Ladislav Szikszay and his assistant Michal Volf entered with a special camera attached to their chest. The goal of the project was to improve the spectator experience, as the telecast on O2 TV Sport offered viewers live footage from the judges’ point of view.

Sparta made their first breakthrough in the 17th minute when Laci passed to Olatunji on the run and the Nigerian striker fired past goalkeeper Grabara. After that, stopper Vavro fouled a teammate from the Slovak national team Haraslín in a slip, and referee Szikszay sent him off. The tempo of the match dropped and the spectators did not have many chances until the end of the match. “I didn’t hesitate at all about the red card. Such an intervention does not belong in a friendly match,” said Szikszay.

Letenští added insurance in the 76th minute. Tuci handled Ryneš’s cross, hit the post and Kuchta made no mistake with a quick stop. Copenhagen, which will face defending champion Manchester City in the LM round of 16 at the turn of February and March, did not win for the second time in preparation. On Tuesday, they drew 2:2 on the field of Glasgow Rangers, with whom Prague faced in the fall in the Europa League group.

On Monday, Sparta will fly to Marbella for training. In Spain, the Hungarian team Puskás Akadémia, represented by the Czechs Patrizio Stronati and Jakub Plšek, will challenge the defending Norwegian champion and the defeater of Bohemians 1905 from the last qualification of the European Conference League Bodö/Glimt and the current Swedish champion Malmö.

The Praguers will start the spring part of the first league on February 10 at the new Karviná field. In February, they also have a double match of the opening elimination round of the EL with Galatasaray Istanbul, which Copenhagen met in the autumn in the LM group, as well as the quarter-final of the domestic cup against Slavia. Just ahead of their city rival, Letenští lead the incomplete table by five points, but the team from Vršovice has a duel to spare.

Sparta Prague – FC Copenhagen 2:0 (1:0)

Goals: 17. Olatunji, 76. Kuchta. ČK: 26. Vavro (Copenhagen).

Sparta line-up:

I. half: Vorel – Vydra, Panák, Krejčí – Mejdr, Laci, Solbakken, Wiesner – Ševčík, Haraslín – Olatunji.

II. half time: Vindahl – Vitík, Ševínský, Večerka – Preciado, Sadílek, Kairinen, Ryneš – Tuci, Birmančevič – Kuchta. Coach: Priske.

2024-01-20 21:13:14
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