Czech Republic round-up: Poborský double saves Sparta

AC Sparta Praha maintained their four-point lead over city rivals SK Slavia Praha this weekend but had to do it this way.

Poborský double
Two goals from Karel Poborský ensured Sparta came back from behind to win 2-1 at lowly FK Chmel Blšany. The victory left Sparta in the driving seat a week before the derby with Slavia. The away side trailed after just three minutes when Jan Zemlík found the net. The goal conjured up memories of the capital club's last visit to Blsany, when they left with a 3-0 defeat. However, Poborský was on hand with two goals in nine minutes.

Brazilian brilliance
Second placed Slavia had much easier time of it defeating league newcomers SK Ceské Budejovice 6-1. They scored after just two minutes through Rudolf Skácel but by far the most valuable player in the victory was Brazilian Evander Adauto, who scored twice and made another three. The remaining goals came courtesy of Stepán Vachousek, Tomás Dosek and Karel Piták.

Young guns
The league's top scorer Václav Sverkos struck his eleventh goal this season to help FC Baník Ostrava defeated CU Bohemians Praha 2-0 and boost their chances of a European place. Under-21 team-mate Mario Licka was also on target. Another youngster to find the net was FC Slovan Liberec's Slovakian Filip Holosko, who hit both goals in the 2-0 victory against FK Jablonec.

Relegation battle
Elsewhere, FK Viktoria Zizkov were 2-0 winners against FK Teplice to keep up their charge for a UEFA Cup spot thanks to Tomás Oravec and Ales Pikl. At the bottom, SK Hradec Králové ended their eight-game run without win by defeating fellow strugglers SK Sigma Olomouc 2-1. Goals from Filip Klapka and Pavel Krmas in the opening 30 minutes brought coach Leos Kalvoda his first win. Newcomers FC Tescoma Zlín eased their relegation fears with 1-0 victory over FC Príbram thanks to Peter Babnic.

Successful strugglers
Finally, 1. FC Brno, who themselves had gone seven rounds without victory, snatched vital three points with a 4-1 win over 1. FC Synot. Marek Zúbek, who only returned home from Belgian side KFC Lommelse SK on Friday, scored the second in a comprehensive win.