Sparta youngsters, a team consisting mostly of the U19 players, suffered a 0-1 loss to Middlesbrough in the first match of the Premier League International Cup group stage.
The opening minutes showed us that the match will be set in a pretty quick pace. Right after three minutes of play Boro threatened Sparta when Morris’s header went over the bar.
In the very first chance of Sparta youngsters Plechatý fired from 25 metres away, unfortunately he missing the target. A minute later Plechatý was tackled in the middle of pitch. The game has been interrupted for almost ten minutes and Dominik had to leave pitch, being helped by the doctors.
After thirty minutes there was another goodopportunity for Sparta U21s. Fortelný fired from a long range distance, but shot went over the bar.
In the 36th minute McAloon was tripped in the box, Boro’s skipper Cook took the responsibility and converted the penalty – 1-0.
The manager Miroslav Krieg made one change, replacing Ondřej Novotný with Christian Frýdek. And it was Frýdek who made Boro’s defence a bit dizzy, but his effort lacked a shot. Shortly after, there was another great chance for home team. Whitley delivered excellent cross to Morris who headed it just over the bar.
At the end of match Sparta played a bit risky and gave Boro a chance for a couple of quick counter attacks. None of them found their way through Marek Štěch. Sparta lost 0-1 in their first match of the Premier League International Cup.
Middlesbrough FC U23 – AC Sparta Prague U21 1:0 (1:0)
Goals: 37’ Cooke (PK).
Booking: 70’ Hegarty.
Line-ups:
Middlesbrough: Pears – Kitching, Elsdon, Hegraty, McGhee (72’ Pattison) - Cooke, Wheatley, Johnson (62’ Liddle), Morelli - Morris, McAloon.
Sparta: Štěch – Kadlec Milan, Köstl, Mareček, Dudl, - Plachý (65’ Císařovský), Havelka, Plechatý (30’ Sedláček), Majka – Fortelný – Novotný (46’ Frýdek).
Match officials: Harrington – Speedie, Barlow.
Attendance: 200.
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