Sports News

Slavia edges Sparta 3:2 to keep ice hockey championship hopes alive; in the NHL Ottawa's Dominik Hasek remains uncertain to start in Stanley Cup playoffs. In football, Liberec edge closer to the league title with a 1:1 tie against Plzen; Chelsea keeper Petr Cech suffers minor injury as Chelsea down Everton; Aston Villa striker Milan Baros twice finds the back of the net in Birmingham derby. In basketball, Prostejov bounce Usti nad Labem 128:70.

Extraliga ice hockey finals

Slavia Prague - Sparta Prague, photo: CTK

Monday was do-or-die for Slavia Prague as the team faced arch rivals Sparta. Playing in their home stadium Slavia twice took single goal leads, but both times Sparta came back in a tight, edge-of-the seat game played before a record number of fans: more than 16,000. The game - capturing the best of a classic rivalry - was also attended by the country's president. Slavia managed to hold onto a final lead of 3-2, going up in the 3rd on a nice backhander by Tomas Divisek. Slavia's win narrows Sparta's lead in the best-of-seven series to 3-2.

Hasek uncertain to start for Ottawa in Stanley Cup playoffs

Overseas in the NHL, Czech stars like Jaromir Jagr and Patrik Elias are gearing up for the Stanley Cup playoffs but one player still uncertain to start is Ottawa's star goaltender Dominik Hasek. Hasek, 41, suffered injury earlier at this year's Winter Olympics and has not played for Ottawa since. Hasek has been practicing, but recently complained he was still suffering pain and that his game wasn't there yet. Earlier, Ottawa representatives staved off rumours Hasek would not play the rest of the season - including the playoffs. The team's management has asserted Hasek will return at some point soon.

Jagr has final chance to edge Thornton in NHL points table

Jaromir Jagr, photo: CTK

Jaromir Jagr has one regular season game left to try and finish atop the NHL points table and it will have to be a productive one. Jagr is currently 3 points behind leader Joe Thornton of the San Jose Sharks who lost their final game on Monday. Jagr's Rangers play Ottawa in their final game of the season.

Football domestic league

Slovan Liberec - Pilsen, photo: CTK

Slovan Liberec edged a point closer at the weekend to taking the league title, after tying 1:1 with Pilsen. The team's coach Vitzeslav Lavicka wasn't entirely happy with his team - but said in the second half his players did well to earn the point.

"The way we played in the first half especially we didn't really deserve to win and not surprisingly they went ahead. But, we tightened up our organisation in the 2nd and got the all-important equalizer. We even came close to going ahead after that - the ball was on the goal line - but given the flow of the game we're happy with the point. How important it will be overall, we'll see at the end of the season."

Cech injured - start in Germany not threatened

In other football action, Czechs were on form in the English Premiership at the weekend including Petr Cech. His side Chelsea are now a point away of winning their second straight championship title. Most recently, Chelsea downed Everton 3:0. But, the world's number 1 keeper Cech was injured at the end of the first half when he accidentally collided with team-mate William Gallas. He was replaced in goal by Cudicini. The injury is a minor one, although Cech does report on his webpage that he was given ten stitches to his foot. His start for the Czech national side at the upcoming World Cup in Germany is not threatened.

Baros strikes twice

Also in the Premiership, Aston Villa's Milan Baros struck twice in a derby against local rivals Birmingham City, contributing to a 3:1 victory. This season Baros has now scored eight goals for Villa.

Basketball: Prostejov bounce Usti in high-scoring match

The Easter weekend saw the basketball league playoff quarter finals heat up with a number of high-scoring matches: Prostejov trounced Usti nad Labem 128:70, while Nymburk sent Sparta packing 123:70, to make the semi-finals. Other winners included Brno over Decin and Kunin over Pardubice.