Czech Republic round-up: Sparta earn breathing space

A 1-0 win against SK Ceské Budejovice restored AC Sparta Praha's three-point lead at the top as their Prague rivals drew.

First win
Jirí Kotrba earned his first win as the Sparta coach at the Letná stadium against Ceské Budejovice. The 20-year-old Tomás Jun converted Martin Zboncák´s cross for the only goal of the game. However, there was good news for Sparta as second-placed SK Slavia Praha were held to a 1-1 draw at CU Bohemians Praha.

Second goal
Rudolf Skácel converted a rare chance to give Slavia the lead, but Bohemians, the bottom club, hit back as Ales Bednár scored in his second successive game since joining from second division SK Pardubice during the winter break to earn a point.

Controversial goal
FC Slovan Liberec earned a 1-0 win against 1. FC Brno with a controversial Jan Nezmar goal. Brno claimed that Nezmar was in an offside position when he found the target, although with the defending Czech champions dominating much of the game, especially after playmaker Václav Kolousek was brought on at half-time, Slovan could have made the result more certain.

Shock defeat
The win saw Liberec climb above FK Teplice into third place as Frantisek Straka's side lost their first home game since the coach's arrival against FC Baník Ostrava. Václav Sverkos, the 19-year-old who scored twice last week, found the target again to secure a 1-0 win.

Pressure on
FK Viktoria Zizkov kept up the pressure on the leading pack with a 2-0 win at FK Zlín, as captain Ales Pikl converted a free-kick before Slovakian striker Tomás Oravec sealed a fourth successive victory with a goal three minutes from time.

Late goal 
A late goal also spoiled FC Príbram's weekend, as Radim König converted a free-kick deep into added time for FK Jablonec 97 to make it 1-1. The Czech league's record scorer, Horst Siegl, had earlier given Príbram the lead with his 154th career goal to break a six-month scoring duck.

Basement clubs
New SK Hradec Králové coach Leos Kalvoda is still without a point after his team lost 3-1 at home against FK Chmel Blsany 3-1. They are level on points with Bohemians and SK Sigma Olomouc, whose game against 1. FC Synot was postponed due to an icy pitch.