Czech Republic round-up: Slovan close on Sparta
Monday, September 23, 2002
Article summary
AC Sparta Praha remained top of the 1. liga despite a stalemate in the derby at SK Slavia Praha.
Article body
Blaha hat-trick
Champions Slovan scored three times in the first half-hour, but unlike last week when they draw at FK Jablonec 97, they pressed home their advantage to claim victory. Striker Lubomír Blaha, released by Sparta in the summer, struck a hat-trick with Martin Zboncák registering twice. The visitors' consolation came through Roman Jun's late effort.
Saved by the woodwork
The slippery conditions made for an exciting Prague derby at the Strahov stadium. Slavia's Stepán Vachousek went closest to breaking the deadlock but his 80th-minute free-kick came back off the crossbar. Slavia stayed three points behind the top two.
Zlín claim win
FC Zlín earned their first win after coming from behind to beat SK Sigma Olomouc. The new boys fell behind to David Rojka's early strike but Jaroslav Svach and former Sigma player Josef Mucha replied before the interval to secure the home team's first top-flight victory in six years and lift Zlín off the bottom of the table.
Paying the penalty
SK Hradec Králové replaced them after a goalless draw at home to Jablonec. David Zoubek's missed penalty preserved the visitors' unbeaten record. FK Viktoria Zizkov were unable to repeat the form shown in their UEFA Cup win over Rangers FC in the stalemate against FC Príbram. But Martin Prohászka's late goal ended 1. FC Synot's resistance at FC Baník Ostrava.
New coaches shine
CU Bohemians Praha showed signs of improvement under new coach Dusan Uhrin as they stormed back from a goal down to win 3-1 at FK Chmel Blšany - their first away success since December. Meanwhile, Frantisek Straka's new charges, FK Teplice, claimed a second straight victory, 2-1 at 1. FC Brno, thanks to Jan Rezek's late clincher.
