The football players of Slovácko won the final of the domestic cup of the MOL Cup over Sparta Prague 3: 1 and won the first big trophy in club history. All goals were scored in Uherské Hradiště in the opening act.
The home team Slovácko was sent into the lead by Václav Jurečka in the 11th minute and Petr Reinberk raised in the 33rd minute. Three minutes before the break, Dávid Hancko reduced, but in a minute Reinberk scored for the second time in the match.
The final was to take place 14 days ago, but due to a cloudburst and ineligible terrain, it was postponed and took place after the weekend’s end of the league season. It was played at the Slovácko stadium because it was a worse team on the day of the semifinals in the table of cup coefficients for the years 2017 to 2021.
Slovácko won the final of the MOL Cup on the third attempt, in 2005 and 2009 it failed. Sparta did not build on last year’s triumph and tried in vain for a record eighth championship in independent history. The Letna team, led by temporary coach Michal Horňák, who replaced Pavel Vrba nine days ago, were unable to correct the impression of the failed league season, in which they took third place. Slovácko finished fourth in the highest competition.
“We wanted to raise the cup over our heads, it was a dream and it came true. The team went for it from start to finish, it was clear that we wanted it more than Sparta. In my opinion, we deservedly won in all respects. For us, it’s as if we won the title, “said Slovácko coach Martin Svědík at a press conference.
Both teams already had their final start in the European Cup qualifiers before the final. The winning Slovácko region has secured its participation in the 3rd preliminary round of the European Conference League and under certain circumstances may jump to the 3rd preliminary round of a higher quality European League. The 2nd preliminary round of the European Conference League awaits Sparta. Slovácko defeated the Prague team for the third time in four competitive matches this season, in the autumn it defeated it 4: 0 at home in the league and won a week ago at Letná.
While Slovácko started with all the mainstays, the Spartan coach Horňák surprised. The basic line-up lacked experienced captain Dočkal, who ended his career after the match, Pavelka or Sáček, and the youngsters Karabec, Souček and Suchomel were given a chance.
The latter experienced an unsuccessful entry into the match. After Reinberk’s center, Suchomel fouled the escaping Kalabišek in the lime according to the referee Szikszay, and with 17 goals the second best scorer of the past league season, Jurečka, did not hesitate from the penalty in the 11th minute. Goalkeeper Heč, who previously worked in Slovakia, chose the wrong side.
“I think the start of the match was as expected. A lot of personal fights, neither team wanted to make a mistake. performance and victory 2: 1 in the derby in Slavia
Krejčí Jr. could answer, but the goalkeeper Nguyen fired his shot. In the 19th minute, he ran for the defense of the home team Jureček and behind the already overcome Heča turned away Vitík in front of the line. On the other side, after Hložek’s blocked wound, the guests complained in vain about their hand in the lime.
In the 33rd minute, the team from Uherské Hradiště increased. Havlík hit a wall from a very promising position from a direct kick, but then returned the ball into the lime with the center, Hofmann extended it to the back post and the unguarded Reinberk stabbed the ball head over Heča into the net. Dissatisfied visiting fans lit up the lawn with flares and chanted shouts against the club leadership.
The Letna team returned to the match in the 42nd minute. The home team turned the center just behind the lime, from where the stopper Hancko stretched out and reduced it with a successful shot with the help of a crossbar. But the Spartans collected again in a minute. After the pass and Jureček’s push, Reinberk remained uncovered just behind the lime and did not give Heč a chance with a precise attempt to the pole.
The 32-year-old Extreme Bek scored twice in one competition duel for the third time in his career, while having health problems. “I’ve had a lot already, I couldn’t sprint. It was still on my left leg. So I had to go around it, I couldn’t kick the left one. Fortunately, I hit it,” Reinberk said.
“I regret this goal the most. We have the strength to be able to score a contact goal before half-time, and we will collect it from the next chance. Terrible damage, terrible mistake. That goal was decisive,” said Krejčí.
Reinberk did not intervene in the second half due to injury and left the place for Tomič. Spartan coach Horňák alternated twice and instead of the indistinct Karabka with Souček he deployed Haraslín with Sáček. In the 48th minute, Krejčí Jr. could have reduced, but he narrowly missed the header. On the other hand, he saved the guests of Heč against Cicili.
Horňák sent Dočkal to the lawn in the middle of the second act, but the people of Letná could not get to the pressure, let alone to the chances. On the other hand, Kalabiška could definitely decide in the 69th minute, but he did not beat Heč. A moment later, heavy police officers with dogs surrounded the field, but after about five minutes they withdrew. The people of Prague were finishing up in convulsions and no longer had to dramatize the conclusion.
The final of the Czech MOL Cup in Uherské Hradiště:
1. FC Slovacko – Sparta Prague 3: 1 (3: 1)
Goals: 33. and 43. Reinberk, 11. Jurečka z pen. – 42. Hancko. Judges: Szikszay – Nádvorník, Hájek – Klíma (video). ŽK: Petržela – Suchomel, Čvančara, Dočkal. Attendance: 7991 (sold out).
Slovácko: Nguyen – Reinberk (46. Tomič), Kadlec, Hofmann, Kalabiška – Daníček, Havlík – Petržela (67. Holzer), Sadílek (90. + 3 Šimko), Jurečka (85. Vecheta) – Cicilia. Coach: Witness.
Sparta: Heča – Suchomel (68. Minčev), Vitík, Hancko, Höjer (68. Dočkal) – Souček (46. Sáček), Ladislav Krejčí II – Pešek, Karabec (46. Haraslín), Hložek – Čvančara. Coach: Horňák.
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