line-ups

SK Sigma Olomouc

Koutný – Hadaš (83. Jásir), Sylla, Lurvink, Elbel – Baráth, M. Beran (58. Kliment) – Ghali (70. Mikulenka), Šíp (58. Jezierski), Šturm – Růsek (C) (70. Sejk)

FC Viktoria Plzeň

Wiegele – Memić, Krčík, Jemelka, Doski (78. K. Spáčil) – Červ (C), Hrošovský – Souaré (90+2. Dweh), Ladra (67. Sojka), Višinský (78. Adam Kadlec) – Lawal (67. M. Vydra)

statistics

Goals: 22. Šturm – 17. Lawal, 45. Krčík (Hrošovský)

Yellow cards: 37. Šíp (OLO), 57. Janotka (hl. trenér) (OLO), 66. Kliment (OLO), 68. Elbel (OLO), 73. Sejk (OLO) – 34. Višinský (PLZ), 79. Krčík (PLZ), 87. Červ (PLZ)

Referees: Černý – Hájek, Kotík

Shots on goal: 2:4

Shots off target: 11:12

Corners: 6:5

Offside: 0:1

Fouls: 14:15

Attendance: 4233

Plzeň started the match actively and, thanks to goals from Lawal and Krčík, took home all three points from Haná. Although the home side managed to equalize, Viktoria controlled the game in the second half and secured victory with solid defense.

Plzeň kicked off the Valentine’s Day clash. As early as the 2nd minute, Olomouc had a free kick, but the rehearsed routine failed to find its target. Hrošovský then attempted a long ball to release Lawal, but he was just a step short and the home goalkeeper cleared to safety. In the 8th minute, the hosts threatened. A cross from the wing flashed across the penalty area, but Jemelka cleared for a corner at the last moment. Shortly after, Souaré received a pass from Červ, created some space and fired, but his effort was headed away by a defender for a throw in. Two minutes later, Souaré was again at the start of a promising move, sending Lawal into space. The resulting cross found Souaré once more and he even put the ball in the net, but the assistant referee’s flag ruled it out for offside. At the end of the 15th minute, Hrošovský picked out Memić, who was unable to finish in the decisive moment. In the 17th minute, Viktoria finally broke through. After a corner kick, Salim Fago Lawal scored his first goal in a Viktoria shirt with a superb strike that gave the goalkeeper no chance. The response came quickly. In the 22nd minute, a shot from outside the box found its way past Wiegele. After the equaliser, the game moved from end to end, but clear chances became scarce. In the 45th minute, Viktoria regained the lead when Dávid Krčík scored following another corner. In stoppage time, Červ tried his luck inside the box, but his well struck effort went narrowly wide.

Right after the break, Lawal had the opportunity to add his second goal, but the home goalkeeper denied him with an excellent save. In the 53rd minute, Memić tested the keeper again, but his shot was pushed away. Viktoria controlled possession and frequently delivered balls into the penalty area. That was evident again in the 59th minute when Souaré crossed for Višinský, who struck first time but missed the target. In the 61st minute, a home player broke through one on one, but Jemelka recovered in time and cleared for a corner with a sliding tackle. Shortly afterwards, Červ attempted a shot from distance, but it went wide. In the 73rd minute, a long ball from the hosts forced Wiegele to rush far off his line, and the ensuing challenge was judged to be an attacking foul. In the closing stages, Olomouc increased the pressure in search of an equaliser, but Plzeň’s solid defence held firm. Viktoria therefore take all three points back from Olomouc.

Highlights

Photogallery