The Sparta footballers lost 1:2 in the rematch of the 2nd preliminary round of the European Conference League on the field of the Norwegian Viking Stavanger, and after the opening goalless draw at home last week, they ended the competition. For the first time since the 2019/20 season, Prague will not appear in the cup group.
The men of Danish coach Brian Priske led from the 42nd minute thanks to Jaroslav Zelený, but Viljar Vevatne equalized in the opening act.
The duel was headed for overtime, but in the second minute of regulation, Spartan captain Dávid Hancko “greased” the ball for the guests with a bad back pass, and substitute Mai Traoré scored into an empty net and decided the Viking’s advance to the 3rd preliminary round. In it, the Norwegian team will face either Scotland’s Motherwell or Ireland’s Sligo Rovers.
“Today we suffered a heavy blow. But we will not stay down, we will rise again. Tomorrow we will wake up with a feeling of revenge and strength to get back on our feet. It is up to me to keep the players going. We are out of one competition, so we are fully focused for the league and domestic cup,” said Priske at the press conference.
Viking started in the same basic lineup as last Thursday at Letná, the Spartan coach made only one change. The stopper pair with Hanck was created by the Dane Sörensen, who made his competitive debut in the Prague outfit. Zelený moved to the left side of the defense and Wiesner to the right, where he replaced Mejdro.
Sparta was more dangerous from the start in the match played on artificial grass. At the beginning of the fourth minute, Fortelný pushed the ball into the goal area for Kucht, whose ground shot was blocked by goalkeeper Gunnarsson. After a quarter of an hour of play, Fortelný shot from the first after Sadílk’s cross, but the home goalkeeper again intervened. Not even Karabec and Kuchta beat him from behind the goal. Wiesner headed over from close range after a corner and Hanck’s shot from distance hit the crossbar.
After almost half an hour of the game, Kabran made a run for the home defense, but he did not aim accurately in the goal. Goalkeeper Holec neutralized De Lanlay’s shot, which floated in the air.
Letensi scored in the 42nd minute. Wiesner found Zelený at the back post with a cross and the Czech representative made no mistake. But the visitors’ lead only lasted for over two minutes. Solbakken tapped Vevatne and the Norwegian full-back hit Holka, who celebrated his 28th birthday today, with a shot from outside the penalty area.
“We tried to change something for the second match. We didn’t center very much at home, so we tried to get more centers there. It worked out beautifully, but unfortunately we conceded right away. So it was wasted,” said Zelený for ČT sport.
After the change of sides, the ball bounced to an unguarded Wiesner in the penalty area, but the Spartan defender shot wide. On the opposite side, after half a minute on the pitch, substitute Traoré’s shot went over. Pattynama immediately fired from the penalty area, but Holec held the team. In the opening minute of regulation, substitute Mejdr got to the ball, but he only aimed at the middle of the goal.
It looked like thirty minutes of extra time would follow. But Hanck’s back pass to Holka in the box was caught by substitute Sandberg and Traoré easily hit the abandoned goal.
“It was a bad decision that punished us a lot. Hancko is a fantastic player, he played a good game. He’s a great player and boy. Like the other guys, I’ll support him as much as I can. He played great games for Sparta and there are more to come,” he said Priske.
“Unfortunately, such a mistake will happen. I think we may have been asking for it a little bit. They were better in the second half and had dangerous situations from which we could cash in,” added Zelený.
Rematch of the 2nd preliminary round of the European Conference League:
Viking Stavanger – Sparta Prague 2:1 (1:1)
Goals: 45. Vevatne, 90.+2 Traoré – 42. Zelený. Referee: Kastrati – Hyseni, Muhadriová (all Kosovo). ŽK: Karlsbakk, Tripic – Hancko, Karabec, Fortelný. First match: 0-0, Viking advances.
Viking: Gunnarsson – Björshol, Brekalo, Vevatne – Kabran, De Lanlay (90.+3 Vikstol), Solbakken, Frijónsson, Pattynama – Karlsbakk (59. Traoré), Tripic (81. Sandberg). Coach: Aarsheim.
Sparta: Holec – Wiesner (81. Mejdr), Sörensen, Hancko, Zelený – Sadílek, Fortelný – Pešek (63. Daněk), Karabec (74. Minčev), Haraslín (81. Ryneš) – Kuchta (62. Čvančara). Coach: Priske.
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