Brno, August 30 (BD) – Zbrojovka shows life in its fifth league game, Lokomotiva Horni Herspice also gets its first win, and the overall Brno sports schedule. Photo: Bruno Zalubil
Brno Sports Weekly Report by Bruno Zalubil
Zbrojovka Beats Sparta, 2-0
From chaos comes life. After allowing three goals in a loss to Banik Ostrava to start the season, after humiliating losses at Zlin and Olomouc, after earning only a single point from a scoreless tie against Bohemians in four HET Liga games, and after Svatopluk Habanec was relieved of his head coaching duties, Zbrojovka took the field with pride, passion, and belief to defeat Sparta Prague on Saturday in front of 8,016 fans.
There is still a long season ahead, but this victory may very well prove to be the most important.
Zbrojovka got on the board in the 22nd minute when Tomáš Pilík put a direct kick into the box. The finishing touch was a bit unclear: one source says that Brno’s Jan Polák gets credit for heading the ball past the Sparta goalkeeper; the video replay appears to show that it was an own goal by Sparta’s Josef Šural; and another source suggests that both touched it and Polák gets credit. Either way, the halftime score was Zbrojovka 1, Sparta 0.
The second half turned into the Lukáš Vraštil show. Three times in 20 minutes, his name was entered into the official record. In the 47th minute he received a yellow card; in the 58th minute he tapped a header from Polák toward the Sparta goal and then slammed it in; and in the 67th minute he was shown a red card after receiving a second yellow card.
Zbrojovka played the remainder of the game with only 10 players, but they were able to keep the Sparta offense at bay. Goalkeeper Dušan Melichárek made several impressive saves.
Brno has traditionally done well against Sparta at home, especially recently: last year ended in a 3-3 tie in front of 9,223 fans and the year before ended in a 1-0 Zbrojovka victory in front of a sold out crowd of 10,200. This year’s result means that Zbrojovka has earned seven points in the past three games against the Prague powerhouse.
Clearly, one victory in the fifth week of the season — even against Sparta — does not save the season. Zbrojovka is 14th in the 16-team league. The bottom two teams are relegated to the lower league at the end of the season.
Click here to see a video recap of the Zbrojovka victory over Sparta on Saturday.
The domestic league will take a break for international play. The Czech Republic will host Germany on Friday in Prague as they struggle to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
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Lokomotiva Travels to Liberec for First Win
Kateřina Vojtková scored in the fifth minute and Lokomotiva Brno Horni Herspice never looked back as they beat host FC Slovan Liberec, 1-3, on Saturday.
Kristýna Šimová added a goal in the 29th minute and Vojtková converted a penalty in the 59th minute. Liberec broke up the shutout with an 86th minute goal.
It was Lokomotiva’s first victory in the top league after losses at Slovacko and at home against Sparta.
Lokomotiva plays at FK Dukla Praha on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and returns to Horni Herspice to host FC Viktoria Plzeň on Sept. 9 at 11 a.m.
Click here for the top women’s football league schedule and results.
BRNO SPORTS RESULTS
Quick results for various Brno professional and recreational sports for the past week. Home team listed first (when applicable).
• Saturday, Aug. 26
— Men’s Football: Zbrojovka Brno 2, Sparta Prague 0
— Rugby: RC Tatra Smíchov X RC Dragon Brno, NA
— Women’s Football: FC Slovan Liberec 1, Lokomotiva Brno H. H. 3
BRNO SPORTS SCHEDULE
The schedule for various Brno professional and recreational sports for the next two weeks. All dates and times subject to change. Home team listed first (when applicable).
• Saturday, Sept. 2
— Rugby: RC Dragon Brno X RC Praga Praha, 2 p.m.
— Baseball: Cardion Hroši Brno X Skokani Olomouc, 1 p.m.; Cardion Hroši Brno X Skokani Olomouc, 4 p.m. ; Draci Brno X Eagles Praha, 7 p.m.
— Women’s Football: FK Dukla Praha X Lokomotiva Brno H. H., 10:30 a.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 3
— Baseball: Draci Brno X Eagles Praha, 1 p.m.; Skokani Olomouc X Cardion Hroši Brno, 2 p.m.
• Monday, Sept. 4
— Baseball: Eagles Praha X Draci Brno, 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Sept. 6
— Baseball: Draci Brno X Cardion Hroši Brno, 7 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 8
— Hockey: Kometa versus Oceláři Třinec, DRFG Arena, 6 p.m. — SEASON-OPENING GAME
— Baseball: Draci Brno X Kotlářka Praha, 7 p.m.; Arrows Ostrava X Cardion Hroši Brno, 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 9
— Football: Mladá Boleslav X Zbrojovka Brno
— Rugby: JIMI RC Vyškov X RC Dragon Brno
— Baseball: Kotlářka Praha X Draci Brno, 2 p.m.; Arrows Ostrava X Cardion Hroši Brno, 3 p.m.
— Women’s Football: Lokomotiva Brno H. H. X FC Viktoria Plzeň, 11 a.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 10
— Hockey: Hr.Králové X Kometa
— Baseball: Kotlářka Praha X Draci Brno, 1 p.m.; Cardion Hroši Brno X Arrows Ostrava, 2 p.m.
The Brno Sports Report is published every Wednesday. All dates and times are subject to change. Most of the stories are about the traditional “English-speaking” team sports — football, hockey, baseball, basketball, American football, rugby, etc. — but it is also about the interesting local spectator and participation sports — tennis, badminton, running, horse racing, swimming, rock climbing, biking, etc. If you have any suggestions for what should be included, please comment below or send an email to brnosports@gmail.com.
