Slavia Prague suffered a home defeat after 24 matches, losing to Plzen. Coach Miroslav Koubek prepared his team exceptionally well, down to the smallest detail, and his players executed the plan precisely.
It was a completely different performance compared to the match against Sparta Prague, where Plzen lost quite easily. The statistics speak in Koubek’s favor, as he has won five out of seven matches against Slavia. It’s probably not a coincidence. Koubek knows how to prepare his team.
Both goals were scored by Slovakian striker Erich Jirka, and one might wonder how he managed to find himself alone in front of the goal twice. Plzen caught Slavia on a day when their defensive line wasn’t well organized.
The first goal came after a loss of possession and a long ball to Jirka, with Slavia defenders far apart and not in formation. The goalkeeper hesitated and lost a split second, plus he wasn’t equipped with enough speed. However, I see the biggest mistake with the Nigerian center-back Ogbua, who should have anticipated the situation and dealt with it.
The second goal came from a Plzen player who was not under pressure, even though there were five Slavia players around him. Once again, the center-back failed to read the danger, allowing someone to run onto a through ball.
Jirka has been playing in the Czech league for some time now, and opponents should know him. It is known that his speed is his greatest advantage. Moreover, he converted both chances, which demonstrates his individual ability. Often, even such clear-cut chances are not converted.
Slavia played a risky defensive strategy that didn’t pay off because they didn’t have proper cover. This ultimately led to their first home defeat. The victory greatly helped Plzen, putting them back in the title race.
There is a discussion about a penalty kick that was awarded to Sparta Prague in the local derby against Bohemians for a foul by Hybs on Kucht. I admit that if such a penalty were awarded against me as a defender, I would be quite upset.
In England, they wouldn’t give it, and in Germany, I have serious doubts. However, the referee decided to award it, and the main mistake, in my opinion, lies with Matěj Hybs. I understand that he went into the tackle forcefully, being inside the penalty area. But from such an experienced player, I would expect him to evaluate who he is dealing with. Such challenges on Kucht are penalized here.
He shouldn’t have gone into his body; he should have let him control the ball and see what happens next. I reject the notion of a so-called soft penalty. It should either be awarded or not. Hybs acted somewhat foolishly.
Bronislav Červenka took over as the new coach, and suddenly things changed for Zlin. They haven’t conceded a goal in three consecutive matches, eliminated Banik Ostrava from the cup on their turf, and now defeated Pardubice away, who are their rivals in the battle to avoid relegation.
I don’t understand it. Okay, a new coach, a new impulse, but I would ask the players what actually happened. Just remember the embarrassment when they conceded nine goals against Boleslav. They were holding their heads in their hands, and the press conference was like one from a lower division, and I don’t mean to belittle their level. And now such a transformation!
Maybe they didn’t agree with the previous coach’s playing style or lineup or the tasks assigned to them. Sometimes things don’t click, and even the best coach can have poor results. But this is a complete transformation.
They didn’t learn how to play football in a week, and there are no new players in the squad. It’s an incomprehensible thing. They themselves should reflect on the reason.
I really enjoyed the Karvina-Ostrava derby. There were goals, beautiful actions, and an open game. Plus, there was a great atmosphere.
Banik Ostrava is another team that I don’t understand. They lost to Jablonec, then got knocked out of the cup by Zlin, but now they defeated their regional rivals, even though they equalized after the break. Matches are day and night. And yet, Ostrava should be playing at the top and challenging the best.
The lights went out in Teplice, and the game was suspended for fifty minutes. I experienced something similar at Bohemians, and it’s very unpleasant for the players. They lose their rhythm, wait for what will happen, and they don’t know. It can happen.
In the end, the home team won, but it didn’t have a detrimental effect on the outcome. However, it affected both teams, and the visitors cannot blame it as an excuse.
