Sports News

Czech international football player Milan Baros has finally gotten a league game at Liverpool, and made the most of the opportunity, scoring two and being named man of the match. Sparta Prague have dropped their first two points of the season in the Czech football league, while Bohemains have finally won a game. Racing driver Tomas Enge has won the Formula 3000 championship, but could lose his crown after traces of cannabis were found in his blood. Those stories and more feature in Sports News.

Sports News

Czech striker Milan Baros bags a brace on English league debut for Liverpool

Milan Baros, Photo:CTK

Well, it's taken a good nine months for him to make an impact, but Czech international striker Milan Baros has finally had a chance to do his stuff at English Premiership club Liverpool; on Saturday Baros made his first league start for Liverpool, and a fairy-tale start it was too. With Michael Owen being rested, Baros seized his opportunity, and netted his first league goal with a sweet 15-yard shot into the top-right hand corner, just on the stroke of half-time. In the 72nd minute Baros was well-positioned to meet a cross from Gerrard, volleying a second goal past the Bolton keeper. To cap it all, Baros was named man of the match. A great day for Milan Baros, but also a good day for Czech football - with only a handful of Czechs currently doing well in Europe's top leagues.

After the game the British sports pages were full of praise for the 20-year-old former Ostrava player, as was Liverpool coach Gerard Houllier, who said his faith in Baros had been well-placed. "Milan has good skill and an eye for goal," said Houllier. As for Baros himself, he said he was glad that the club now knew they could count on him to come up with the goods, adding that he couldn't keep count of the calls of congratulation from the Czech Republic after the game.

Sparta Prague still on top after dropping two points to Blsany

In Czech domestic football, Sparta Prague's impressive run of five straight wins came to an end on Saturday. They dropped two points at home to Blsany, though it looked like they'd lose all three, until Jiri Jarosik got one back for Sparta in the closing minutes to make it 1:1. Sparta remain on top. At the wrong end of the table, Bohemians have finally crawled off bottom spot, after their first victory of the season, 2:1 at home to Ostrava. Zlin are now in last place, after losing to Pribram 2:1.

Four Czech teams prepare for UEFA cup action

Several Czech teams are involved in UEFA cup action this week. Zizkov face the toughest task; they take on Scottish league-leaders Glasgow Rangers on Tuesday at Strahov stadium. On Thursday Sparta play Siroki Brijeg of Bosnia and Liberec play Dynamo Tiblisi - both those games are at home - while Slavia Prague visit Belgian club Mouscron.

Could cannabis charge cost Tomas Enge Formula 3000 championship?

Tomas Enge, Photo:CTK

Motor racing now, and what a week it's been for Czech driver Tomas Enge. On Thursday it was announced that he'd failed a drug test after the Hungarian Formula 3000 Grand Prix, after traces of cannabis were found in his blood. So, with the threat of being docked points from the Budapest race hanging over him, Enge had to keep his concentration for the crucial last race of the season, in Italy. Enge won the race and the Formula 3000 championship, though the question remains, how long will he be champion. A committee of motor racing's governing body the FIA is to rule on the matter in two week's time. And the moral is, just say no kids. And racing drivers.

Ice hockey Extraliga begins tenth season

The Czech ice hockey Extraliga began its tenth season on Friday, with the big game of the first round a duel between Vitkovice and Slavia Prague, with the latter winning 5:2. On Saturday, newly-promoted Liberec played host to Litvinov, and learned a lesson about life in the big league. They lost 4:1, with the last of Litvinov's goals coming from star Jiri Slegr, who has joined the club at least temporarily, after failing to find a place in the NHL after leaving Stanley Cup-winners Detroit during the summer.