Sports News

For the first time in the history of the ice hockey Extraliga the team which won the league, Pardubice, has been beaten in the first round of the playoffs. What's more they were beaten by Pilsen, who only made the playoffs by the skin of their teeth. In football, Sparta Prague beat Slavia 2:0 in a dramatic game at Strahov. And Czech cross country skier Katerina Neummanova has been looking back on an "amazing" season.

Sports News

Pardubice out of Extraliga playoffs in one of biggest upsets ever

Pilsen goaltender Robert Malek, photo: CTK

They're calling it the biggest upset in the history of the Extraliga: Pardubice, who completely dominated the regular season, finishing a full 15 points clear of the pack, have been knocked out in the playoff quarterfinals by Pilsen, who only secured the eighth and final playoff spot by the skin of their teeth.

Pardubice had been leading the best of seven series 3:2, then lost the sixth game in Pilsen, to set up a dramatic climax. And dramatic Saturday's game certainly was, with visitors Pilsen beating the overwhelming favourites 5:1. Pardubice's players and fans were simply stunned, having become the first team to win the Extraliga and then go out in the first round of the playoffs.

Playoff semi-finals pit Prague rivals against one another

In the semi-finals Pilsen will now face Zlin, who saw off Trinec. The other semi-final will perhaps grab more attention, with defending champions Slavia Prague - who came from 3:2 down on games to beat Znojmo - facing fierce rivals Sparta, who overcame Vitkovice.

Hasek gives up three million dollars after season ends early through

injury The legendary Czech goaltender Dominik Hasek has made the most unusual step of forgoing some three million dollars - that's half of his pay for the season at Detroit Red Wings - saying if he can't play, he doesn't deserve to be paid. Hasek, who made a comeback in September a year after 'retiring', is out for the rest of the season with a groin injury. The Dominator, now 39, insists his career is not over.

Sparta beat Slavia 2:0 in dramatic Prague derby

Sparta - Slavia, photo: CTK

Sunday's Prague derby between Slavia and Sparta was the main event in Czech football at the weekend, with both teams in need of three points if they were to have any chance of catching leaders Banik Ostrava. Sparta opened the score with a Vladimir Labant free on 12 minutes, but it was at the end of the first half that things really got dramatic; former international keeper Petr Kouba, getting his first game in two years, handled the ball outside the area and was sent off.

His replacement, 22-year-old David Bicik, had never played in the league before, never mind a Prague derby. Despite being down to ten men, Sparta seemed to increase their domination, and secured a 2:0 win when Radoslav Kovac scored with a brilliant header 20 minutes from the end. Elsewhere struggling Viktoria Zizkov beat Zlin 3:0, Synot won 2:0 against Teplice and Blsany-Brno ended 2:1.

Neummanova looks back on "amazing" season

Katerina Neumannova (right), photo: CTK

Czech cross country skier Katerina Neummanova has finished ninth overall in the World Cup, but still describes her season as "amazing". The reason? Neummanova missed half the season after having a baby but made a brilliant comeback in December with a World Cup win, managing to come first in two more races since then. "I never could have imagined I'd be so successful," said Neummanova after her final event of the season on Saturday.