Sports News

Extraliga results. Havlat suspended for two games for kicking. Hrdina helps Phoenix to victory over Carolina. Dortmund struggles to keep Rosicky. Cech may leave Rennes for London. Chladkova opens season with a loss.

Sports News

Extraliga results

Vitkovice - Sparta, photo: CTK

The top clubs in the Extraliga were not doing particularly well in the 36th round. Top-of-the-league Pardubice lost to Liberec 3-2, their first defeat since December 9. Second Sparta was defeated 6-3 by Vitkovice. And Slavia surrendered to Vsetin 5-4.

Havlat suspended for two games for kicking

Moving abroad, Czech Martin Havlat, an Ottawa Senators forward, was suspended for two games on Friday for a kicking incident in a game against the New York Islanders. Havlat, 22, kicked Islanders defenseman Eric Cairns in front of the Islanders' goal in the 10th minute of the third period, but a penalty was not given on the play. The suspension will cost Havlat just over 16000 USD in salary. Havlat missed a game against Washington on Saturday and will stay on the bench for a match against Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

Hrdina helps Phoenix to victory over Carolina

Another Czech in the NHL, Jan Hrdina of Phoenix, appeared in great form on Sunday in a match against Carolina. He contributed with two assists to his side' 3-0 victory.

Dortmund struggles to keep Rosicky

Moving onto football, and Borussia Dortmund face a real battle to hang onto Czech playmaker Tomas Rosicky after the star admitted his frustration at the club's downturn in fortunes on and off the field. Rosicky, 23, is contracted at the Westfalen Stadium until 2008 but Dortmund's precarious financial situation could see the Czech international sold off at the end of the season. Rosicky said in an interview with German newspaper Westfalischen Rundschau that this solution would be logical given the situation. There would be no shortage of takers for the former Sparta Prague player with Inter Milan, Liverpool, and Juventus all linked with the midfielder in the past. And an impressive showing for the Czech Republic in the 2004 European Championships could see Rosicky push himself further into the limelight.

Cech may leave Rennes for London

Another big deal seems to be ripening for Czech international goalkeeper Petr Cech. According to unofficial information, London club FC Chelsea is reportedly trying to lure Cech from the French club Rennes. The two clubs declined to comment, but the player's manager did hold talks in London on Friday.

Chladkova opens season with a loss

Tennis now, and Czech No. 1 Denisa Chladkova opened the tennis season with a loss. She lost to Magdalena Malejev of Bulgaria 1-6, 1-6 at a WTA tournament in Gold Coast, Australia.