line-ups

FC Viktoria Plzeň

Wiegele – Krčík, Dweh, Doski – Memić (79. Kadlec), Červ, Hrošovský, Višinský (86. Valenta) – Ladra (63. Panoš), Vydra (C) (46. Toure), Adu (46. Sojka).

FC Hradec Králové

Zadražil – Uhrinčať, Čihák, Čech – Suchomel, Fernandes Neto (73. Regža), Kučera (C), Horák – Vlkanova (80. Ponikelský), Mihálik, Trubač (46. Kubr).

statistics

Goals: 11. Ladra (Hrošovský), 46. Višinský, 67. Dweh (Hrošovský) – 9. Mihálik (Vlkanova)

Yellow cards: 41. Memić (PLZ) – 88. Regža (HKR)

Referees: Berka – Váňa, Zoufalý

Shots on goal: 9:4

Shots off target: 9:3

Corners: 8:3

Offside: 3:1

Fouls: 6:13

Attendance: 9497

Plzeň took the first step in the championship round with a win over Hradec, claiming all three points. The victory was decided by a strong second half and clinical finishing.

Plzeň kicked off the championship round. In the 6th minute, Hrošovský sent Vydra through on goal, but his cross from the right went out of play, resulting in a corner. Three minutes later, Mihálik opened the scoring for Hradec, finishing at the far post after a cross from the left. Plzeň looked to respond immediately, with Doski driving forward from the halfway line, but his cross failed to find a teammate. The equaliser came in the 11th minute, when Ladra headed home from a Hrošovský corner, beating Zadražil. Višinský tested the goalkeeper in the 18th minute, although the move was eventually ruled offside. Ladra was involved again in the 27th minute, but his shot was deflected for a corner. In the 36th minute, another big chance followed – Ladra set up Memić, who found Adu, but he failed to hit the target from close range. Hradec threatened in the 39th minute, but Wiegele produced an excellent save and followed it up with another crucial stop just before half-time to keep the score level.

The hosts started the second half much stronger. Hrošovský delivered a cross into the six-yard box, where Višinský bundled the ball into the net. Plzeň continued to push, with Ladra testing Zadražil from distance. In the 55th minute, Červ hit the crossbar during a series of attempts, while another effort was tipped away for a corner. Krčík tried his luck from long range in the 62nd minute, but his shot was comfortably saved. A minute later, Sojka fired over from a promising set piece. Toure broke down the right in the 66th minute but could only find the side netting from a tight angle. Shortly after, a mistake in Hradec’s build-up offered another opportunity, but Višinský and substitute Panoš failed to capitalise. From the resulting corner, however, Sampson Dweh made no mistake, heading home to extend the lead. In the 81st minute, Wiegele once again came up big with another important save. Plzeň then saw out the remainder of the match to secure the win.

Highlights

Photogallery