Sports News

In Sports News: Sparta Prague leave it late to take all three points against Jablonec, while Slavia run riot in a 7:1 win over Zlin; the Czech women's basketball team bounce back after an embarrassing defeat by Germany to overcome Lithuania at the European Championships; Tomas Berdych suffers a surprise exit in the semi-finals at the Thailand Open; and the Czechs draw Belgium in the Davis Cup World Group.

Misfiring Sparta leave it late against Jablonec....

Photo: CTK

Sparta Prague still aren't firing on all cylinders but they are nevertheless in third place in the Czech first division, after a 2:0 victory over Jablonec on Sunday. Sparta left it late though: midfielder Karol Kisel put them ahead on 82 minutes, before scoring a second in time added on. Sparta boss Michal Bilek admitted his side had been under pressure after their lanky striker Libor Dosek failed to convert a few opportunities in front of goal.

"It's true that we were really aware that we could have regretted Dosek's missed chances. But then Kisel scored and that calmed us down a bit. It's hard to say what our problem is - we do make chances, but unfortunately we're not converting them effectively. Our two main strikers Dosek and Marek Kulic really need to begin scoring."

The pair will need to start scoring soon - Sparta are in UEFA Cup action away to OB Odense from Denmark on Thursday; the first leg of that tie for a place in the group stage ended in a 0:0 draw.

...while Slavia run riot in 7:1 hammering of Zlin

Photo: CTK

In contrast to their city rivals, Slavia Prague had no trouble finding the net in their most recent game; they beat Zlin 7:1 on Friday. That goal-fest puts Slavia ahead of Teplice on goal difference at the top of the Czech league; it was the best possible warm-up for Slavia's second Champions League group game away to Sevilla on Tuesday.

Czech women's basketball team through to quarter-finals at Euro championships

The Czech women's basketball team bounced back to win their second game in the final-16 stage of EuroBasket Women 2007 in Italy, beating Lithuania on Sunday. The Czechs had slumped to a surprise defeat to Germany in their previous game, and were trailing the Lithuanians by 10 points at half-time. But the defending European champions rallied and eventually overcame the Lithuanians 75:67. That result means the Czechs are safely through to the quarter-finals.

Berdych suffers surprise defeat in Bangkok semis at hands of little fancied German

Tomas Berdych, photo: CTK

The leading Czech men's player Tomas Berdych was knocked out in the semi-finals at tennis's Thailand Open in Bangkok. Berdych had been favourite to take the tournament after a number of other top ten players pulled out. But the Czech star failed to overcome the unseeded Benjamin Becker of Germany, who only turned professional two years ago.

Czechs draw Belgium in Davis Cup

Let's hope Berdych does better when the Czech Davis Cup team take on Belgium in the elite World Group in February. Last week's draw is being seen as relatively favourable to the Czech Republic.