We lost the first leg of the second qualifying round 1–2 against Aktobe, so we had to break through the Kazakh defensive wall in the return match. That breakthrough came in the second half. Thanks to a 4–0 win, we advance to the third qualifying round, where we’ll face Armenian side Ararat.
AC Sparta Praha – FK Aktobe 4:0 (0:0)
Goals: 57. Birmančević (Kuchta), 60. Ryneš (Preciado), 64. Kuchta (Preciado), 90+4. Rrahmani (Kadeřábek). Yellow Cards: 76. Rrahmani – 87. Omirtaev, 90+2. Zhukov. Referees: D. Chiffi – G. Peretti, C. Rossi (D. Perenzoni). Attendance: 17 235.
Sparta: Vindahl – Cobbaut, Sørensen, Uchenna – Zelený (46. Ryneš), Kairinen (71. Andersen), Vydra, Preciado (66. Kadeřábek) – Haraslín (71. Rrahmani), Kuchta (85. Eneme), Birmančević.
Aktobe: Vlad – Kairov, Korzun (69. Tanzharikov), Andjelkovič – Vatajelu, Zhukov, Usenov (61. Seydakhmet), Jean (61. Doumbouya), Skvortsov – Sosah (73. Shvyrev), Shushenachev (69. Omirtaev).