Sports News
Czech football clubs have had mixed experiences in European competitions this week: Sparta lost to Besiktas in the Champions League, while in the UEFA Cup Teplice caused a huge upset by beating 2002 winners Feyenoord away and Slavia drew with Levski Sofia, with two goals scored in time added on! In ice hockey, the Czechs had a winning start in the Karjala Cup and there is speculation Jaromir Jagr may leave Washington for Montreal.
Sparta's chances of Champions League progress slim after defeat at Besiktas
Sparta Prague's chances of advancing to the knock-out stages of the Champions League now look rather slim, after they lost to Besiktas in a very wet Istanbul on Tuesday night. Sparta were less than ten minutes away from taking a valuable point, when poor defending allowed the unmarked Brazilian Ronaldo (no, not that Ronaldo) to head in the only goal of the game. Sparta keeper Jaromir Blazek was disappointed after the match.
"We should have played a bit more and worked a bit harder. We gave Besiktas too much room to attack in the second half, which was a mistake."
Sparta's next Champions League game is away to Group G leaders Chelsea on November 26. In the more immediate future they face Czech league leaders Ostrava (who have yet to be beaten) in Prague on Saturday, in perhaps the biggest game of the season so far.
Teplice cause big UEFA Cup upset with defeat of 2002 winners Feyenoord
"The guys really defended fantastically. Feyenoord didn't make too many chances and when they did our keeper Patrik Kolar saved really well. We were able to calm down a bit after the second goal, we knew we could win and we wanted to maintain that scoreline."
Incredible climax as Slavia draw at home with Levski Sofia
Despite playing at home, Slavia Prague - now third in the Czech league after beating Synot 2:0 on Monday - had a tougher time in their UEFA Cup tie against the Bulgarian club Levski Sofia. After leading for most of the match through a Pavel Kuka goal, Slavia were - in the end - glad of a draw. After scoring with just under 15 minutes to go, the Bulgarians found the net again two minutes into time added on. In an incredible climax, Pavel Fort then scored the equaliser for Slavia three minutes into time added on!
Both Slavia and Teplice play their second round second leg games in three weeks time.
Winning start for Czechs in ice hockey's Karjala Cup
The Czech Republic got off to a winning start in ice hockey's Karjala Cup on Thursday, with a 2:1 victory over hosts Sweden. The Czechs' other games in the Karjala Cup - which is the second competition of the Euro Hockey Tour - are against Finland on Saturday and Russia on Sunday.
Cechmanek impressive for Los Angeles, Jagr bound for Montreal?
Czech goalie Roman Cechmanek won plaudits after making 24 saves in Los Angeles Kings' 3:2 win over the Florida Panthers on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the unsettled Czech superstar Jaromir Jagr of the Washington Capitals has been linked with a move to Montreal. Typically, Jagr is philosophical about the speculation, saying he would have no control over such a transfer.
