Sports News

Both semi-final play-offs in ice hockey's Extraliga are drawn at 1:1 after the opening games, while in the Czech football league Sparta Prague have widened the gap over rivals Slavia to four points. Tomas Rosicky has played his first game after injury and is fit for the big Euro 2004 games against the Netherlands and Austria and a new women's record has been set in the Prague Half-Marathon.

Sports News

Both semi-final play-offs in ice hockey's Extraliga drawn at 1:1

Sparta - Slavia, Photo: CTK

The semi-final play-offs in ice hockey's Extraliga got off to a dramatic start when Pardubice - who led the league for months in the first part of the season - absolutely hammered Trinec at home in a 10:2 landslide on Thursday. Right-winger Jan Kolar, who is 22, excelled for Pardubice with two goals. Somehow Trinec managed to pull themselves together for the next game on Friday and overcame Pardubice's home advantage to win 4:3, levelling the best-of-seven series at 1:1.

The other semi-final series, between fierce Prague rivals Sparta and Slavia, also stands at one game apiece. Title-holders Sparta took the first game 2:0 at Slavia's Eden stadium on Saturday, with experienced Sparta goalie Petr Briza playing a major roll in that victory. On Sunday, Slavia finally found a way past Briza, with two goals from an in-form Michal Sup deciding the outcome.

Sparta four points clear as Slavia slip up at Zlin

Slavia - Zlin, Photo: CTK

Sparta have opened up a four-point lead at the top of the Czech football league, with a 1:0 win over Brno. The Prague side left it late to secure the three points, with Pavel Pergl getting his first goal for the club in the 89th minute. Slavia remain in second, but will be kicking themselves they let the gap widen by only taking one point from Zlin; the 1:1 result meant it was Slavia's third away draw in a row. At the other end of the table, another Prague club, Bohemians - who had an atrocious start to the season - have continued their post-winter break revival with a 3:1 win at Hradec Kralove. However, the Kangaroos are still in the relegation zone.

Rosicky fit as national football team assembles for crucial Euro 2004 games

The Czech national football team are assembling in Prague at the moment ahead of crucial Euro 2004 qualifiers against the Netherlands and Austria over the next week and a half. Key midfielder Tomas Rosicky returned from injury on Saturday, and got through his first game in a month without any problems, which will be most welcome news for Czech football fans.

Stepanek through to fourth round in Miami

Fred Kiprop, photo: CTK

Czech player Radek Stepanek has advanced to the fourth round of the Nasdaq-100 Open in Miami, with a 6:4 6:4 win over Australian Open runner-up Rainer Schuttler of Germany. Stepanek's next opponent in the competition will be the USA's Todd Martin.

New women's record set in Prague Half-Marathon

The organisers of Saturday's Prague Half-Marathon couldn't have wished for better weather conditions with thousands turning out in the beautiful spring weather. The men's event was won by Fred Kiprop of Kenya in a time of one hour two minutes and forty seven seconds, while Slovenia's Helena Javornik set a new women's course record of one hour eleven minutes and three seconds.