Czech Republic round-up: Sparta title dream over
Saturday, April 20, 2002
Article summary
AC Sparta Praha will not retain their title after losing 3-2 against FK Teplice on Saturday.
Article body
Sparta denied
Sparta's run of consecutive titles stretching back to 1996 came to an end at the Letná stadium as they finally lost touch with the 1. liga's top two sides - FC Slovan Liberec and FK Viktoria Zizkov.
Two missed penalties
Sparta twice took the lead through Martin Horák and Pavel Mares but were pegged back as Michal Dolezal and Ludek Zelenka scored for Teplice. The game then turned on Teplice goalkeeper Tomás Postulka's penalty saves from Libor Sionko and Jirí Jarosík before Radek Divecky profited from a Horák mistake to give Teplice the points.
Slovan triumphant
Sparta are nine points adrift of Slovan after the leaders beat FC Baník Ostrava 1-0. The visitors made life difficult for Slovan at the U Nisy stadium with stand-in goalkeeper Kamil Susko in excellent form. But Baník were finally undone when substitute Gyan Baffour rounded defender René Bolf to beat Susko with a fierce shot.
Game in hand
Baffour's somersaulting celebration was a sign of Slovan's relief as they took a seven-point lead over second-placed Zizkov, who have a game in hand.