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Trenčín is at a result disadvantage before Wednesday’s rematch of the Slovnaft Cup semi-final in Trnava. However, in combination with other factors, he could ultimately benefit from it.
AS lost 1:2 in the first match at home on March 15, although they were still leading a quarter of an hour before the end. In the meantime, the renowned Czech motivator František Straka took over the coaching baton from Marián Zimen, he was introduced on March 27.
The new impulse was reflected in an important 2:0 victory in Poprad over Liptovský Mikuláš on Saturday. It was Trenčany’s first three-point record since October 15.
Lipták, as the final light of the league peloton, escaped the red and white seven rounds before the end of the superstructure group to stay on 15 points. They are in tenth place, one point above the second-to-last eleventh Zlatý Moravci, who are currently holding the tie-breaker Čierne Petr.
Photo gallery
Energetic motivator František Straka.
Source: AS Trenčín
“I confess that until Trenčín officials and I reached the final stage of negotiations, I did not follow the current cup events too much, I perceived the development of the league. But it’s an appealing bonus feature that played a role in my decision. I take it as an additional huge challenge,” the 64-year-old native of České Budějovice makes no secret.
The phrase “rescue mission” is often used in connection with the energetic cardiologist František Strak. The disposable now comes in a cup.
“It’s a gauntlet thrown down. Of course, the constellation could have been more favorable. Trnava is riding, it’s well played out. However, after the first match we are behind by only one goal, I consider it still open. We have 90 minutes to do something about it. If we manage to score the first goal again, it will absolutely change the situation.” points out the former defender, who in the past worked as a coach in Ružomberok and Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia.
“We know that Trnava will do its best to reach the final on May 1st, which will be held at its stadium. She will want to master the last step, it can bind her players a bit. We have nothing to lose, we clearly have to go for victory. In the league, the basic goal of not losing usually flickers somewhere in the subconscious, but for us, a draw would not solve anything at all in this case.” reminds František Straka.
The team from Trenčín had at least a draw within reach in the first meeting, but conceded in the final minute of extra time: “There were promising passages to build on as well as missed opportunities. On the other hand, there are also things that the team must not allow if they want to think about success: unnecessary losses of the ball, relaxation of responsibility, discipline and concentration, which resulted in the opponent’s goal shortly before the end. We have to learn from this.’
Many cup confrontations from his own playing career stuck in the memory of the 1990 World Cup participant. In connection with Wednesday, however, he directed attention in another direction: “I won the Czech Cup with Teplice and Sparta Prague, even the Slovak Super Cup 2014 with Slovan. So there is something to build on and it would be nice if I could transfer these positives to the boys in Trenčín.”
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František Straku’s rescue mission began on March 27.
Source: AS Trenčín
The holder of the 2014/15 and 2015/16 AS cup did not concede in the first five duels of this edition. He had a sensational interim score of 28:0, mainly thanks to a record 14:0 triumph over Hlohovec when entering the 54th edition of the Slovnaft Cup in August. At that time, up to ten different players, among them three substitutes, made their mark.
AS’s attempt at a small miracle is accompanied by curiosity for the superstitious. In the previous two seasons, it was the case that whoever Beluša lost with, he finally won the cup. First it was Slovan, then Trnava. In the 3rd round, Trenčín overcame the aforementioned third division player 4:0…
In the 2021/22 season, the team from Trencin said goodbye to the cup in the semi-finals. At home they drew with Slovan without goals, they lost 1:2 at Tehelno poli. In the league in the current season, they lost to Trnava 0:2 at the Matúš Čák Castle in September and 2:3 at the Anton Malatinského Stadium in February, remarkably coming from 0:3.
Wednesday’s rematch between defending champions Spartak and AS will begin at 6:00 p.m. in front of TV JOJ Šport cameras. The second semi-final pair consists of ŠK Slovan Bratislava and MFK Skalica. Under the influence of the recent international performances of the “Whites” and the subsequent association break, it will not be played until April 12 and 19.
