Czech Republic round-up: Novotný inspires Sparta

AC Sparta Praha consolidated their lead at the top of the Czech first division with a 3-0 win on Saturday.

Michalik pulls the strings
FK Drnovice proved no match for the champions in a one-sided affair at Letná stadium with captain Jirí Novotný netting twice and Jirí Jarošík adding another goal, all three from Rastislav Michalik´s crosses. The visitors, without suspended top scorer Vitezslav Tuma, were not dangerous but they kept the scores level until the 42nd minute when Novotný broke the deadlock.

Slavia strike back
SK Slavia Praha avenged their home defeat at the hands of 1. FC Synot before the winter with a 3-1 win in Staré Mesto. Štepán Vachoušek proved why he is the most expensive player in the Czech league with his first goal for his new team early in the game. Michal Meduna took only three minutes to respond for Synot but Karel Piták and Rudolf Skácel - both newcomers from SK Hradec Králové - clinched the points for Slavia in the last 15 minutes.

No joy for Páník
Bohumil Páník is the third coach of SK Sigma Olomouc this season but he could not lead his side to victory on Saturday against SFC Opava and was forced to settle for a 1-1 draw. The caretaker had a promising start when Stanislav Vlcek put the ball into the net after 18 minutes, but Ladislav Suchánek hit back in the second half.

Chmel held at home
Another struggling side, FK Chmel Blšany, could also only manage a 1-1 home draw against FK Jablonec 97 despite taking a fourth-minute lead through František Koubek. The visitors came without injured goalkeeper Petr Kouba and his replacement Tomáš Lovasík had a busy afternoon but managed to hold Chmel at bay until Ondrej Herzán levelled for Jablonec 20 minutes before the final whistle.

Late goal boosts Brno
FK Teplice remain perilously close to the relegation zone after losing 2-1 at FC Brno. A last-minute penalty from veteran Miroslav Kadlec gave the hosts victory. Libor Došek had given Brno the lead before second-half substitute Pavel Verbír levelled with seven minutes remaining but Kadlec had the last word.

Goalless in Pribram
Neither side could make the breakthrough in a goalless encounter between FC Príbram and Hradec Králové. Sunday sees a fascinating encounter between FC Slovan Liberec and FK Viktoria Zizkov who are battling for second place in the 1. liga table.