Sparta played the first two friendly matches of the summer pre-season against AS Trenčín.
Our new goalkeeper was a captain of the team in the first match of the day. Milan Heča conceded the first goal just after ten minutes when Desley Ubbing opened the score with a decent shot just outside of the penalty area.
Sparta levelled the score in the 22nd minute and it was nice to see Benjamin Tetteh to score his first goal for the club in his first appearance. Tetteh took the ball at the half line and he finished his own solo run with a precise finish between goalkeeper’s legs.
Vukadin Vukadinović was in two chances before the halftime but referee ruled the goal due to offside position and in the second chance “Vuki” didn’t hit the target from the close angle.
Both team made a couple of changes for the second half and Sparta had two great chances but we were unable to scored second goal in this match. Néstor Albiach was alone before the goal but he missed the target after Vukadinović cross and Tetter hit the post with a nice shot from the outside of penalty area.
As it happens, Trenčín scored the winning goal from their first opportunity in the second half. Striker Hamza Čatakovič had too much space in the penalty area and Milan Hečas couldn’t save his hidden shot between defenders legs. 2-1 for Trenčín.
Substituted Youssouf Dao had a big opportunity in the last minute but the bal after his volley shot from close range ended somewhere at the second pitch of our Training centre.
AC Sparta Praha – AS Trenčín 1:2 (1:1)
Goals: Branky: 22. Tetteh – 10. Ubbing, 77. Čatakovič.
Line-ups:
Sparta: Heča – Wiesner (28. Sáček, 54. Mandjeck), Kaya, Ćivić, Frýdek – Kanga, Mandjeck (46. Dao), Néstor (72. Hložek) – Vukadinović, Plavšić (46. Holzer) – Tetteh.
Sparta: Heča – Wiesner (28. Sáček, 54. Mandjeck), Kaya, Ćivić, Frýdek – Kanga, Mandjeck (46. Dao), Néstor (72. Hložek) – Vukadinović, Plavšić (46. Holzer) – Tetteh.
Trenčín: Šemerinec, Skovjasa, Šulek, Azango, Lawrence, Ubbing, Sleegers, Reuben, Arnhem, Čatakovič, El Mandiovi.
The second match of the day against the same opponent was richer on goals despite the first half ended with a goalless draw. But the second half offered six goals to our fans.
Tal Ben Chaim opened the scored just a three minutes after the restart after Vatajelu’s assist. Ben Chaim passed the goalkeeper in the fast run and scored to the open net.
Mihailo Ristić, who played with a captain armband, scored the second goal of this match after he collected the pass from Stanciu and his powerful shot ended in the net.
But our opponent didn’t give up. They scored the first goal in the 72nd minute after corner kick and perfectly placed header by Jakub Paur. The same player levelled the score after another set piece. It was free kick 35 metres from the goal but Jakub Paur headed the ball to the net again within three minutes.
Sparta took the lead eight minutes before the end again thanks to a mistake by opponent’s players after throw-in as our players won the ball back and Stanciu was free in the penalty area and chipped the ball over the goalkeeper. 3-2 to Sparta.
Stanciu was involved in the fourth goal again as he crossed the ball before a goal after one-two pass with Ristić and opponent’s defender cleared the ball only to Holzer who’s fast shot ended in upper corner. 4-2 to Sparta.
AC Sparta Praha – AS Trenčín 4:2 (0:0)
Goals: 48. Ben Chaim, 63. Ristić, 82. Stanciu, 86. Holzer – 72. a 75. Paur.
Line-ups:
Sparta: Bičík (46. Vorel) – Zahustel (40. Holzer), Kulhánek, Costa, Vatajelu – Stanciu, Vácha (46. Mavuba), Ristić, Ben Chaim (72. Dao) – Pulkrab (72. Hložek), Šural (46. Mustedanagić).
Sparta: Bičík (46. Vorel) – Zahustel (40. Holzer), Kulhánek, Costa, Vatajelu – Stanciu, Vácha (46. Mavuba), Ristić, Ben Chaim (72. Dao) – Pulkrab (72. Hložek), Šural (46. Mustedanagić).
Trenčín: Adrian – Julien, Zuraiu, Kvocera, Bukari, Umeh, Slávik, Kadak, Ovlad, Pavlovič.
