line-ups

FK Nové Sady Olomouc

Kofroň – Přikryl (83. Řezník), Trunda, Machálek – Rus (61. Krátký), Andreev – Racek, Ždánský (70. Nguyen), Němeček (61. Raška) – Rolinc, Ambrož (70. Krása)

FC Viktoria Plzeň

Wiegele – Paluska, Markovič, Hejda, Spáčil (60. Doski) – Bello (70. Havel), Zeljkovič, Valenta (60. Červ), Souaré (60. Durosinmi) (81. Suchý) – Ladra – Kabongo

statistics

Goals: 74. Durosinmi, 90+4. Červ

Yellow cards: 26. Přikryl, 78. Andreev, 87. Krátký, 88. Racek – 19. Zeljković

Referees: Vokoun – Kotík, Ježek

Shots on goal: 0:6

Shots off target: 3:14

Corners: 1:7

Attendance: 1610

Viktoria Plzeň won their MOL Cup round of 16 match at Nové Sady in Olomouc, securing their place in the next round with a 2-0 victory. Rafiu Durosinmi and Lukáš Červ scored the goals for the West Bohemian team.

The match picked up pace right from the start. Viktoria started as the favorites against the home team, who were cheered on by a large crowd and for whom it was a football celebration. The home team had the first shot on goal after a set piece, but their attempt went wide. Shortly afterwards, Viktoria threatened when James Bello fired a volley from a cross, but his shot also went wide. Jan Paluska was also active on the right side, where he had plenty of space and tested goalkeeper Kofroň ten meters in front of the penalty area.

Despite their best efforts, the red-and-blues failed to score in the first half. Matěj Valenta had a great chance just before the break when James Bello knocked the ball down from the wing, but the Plzeň midfielder shot over the bar. The first half thus ended goalless.

After the break, Viktoria stepped up their game significantly. In the opening five minutes of the second half, they created several promising opportunities, but lacked a bit of luck in the final phase. In the 55th minute, Christophe Kabongo headed the ball from a corner kick, but it went straight to the goalkeeper. Two minutes later, James Bello brought the ball down the right side into the penalty area and found Tomáš Ladra unmarked, but his shot was blocked by the last defender.

In the 74th minute, however, Plzeň finally got their reward. After a corner kick, Rafiu Durosinmi climbed highest and opened the scoring with a precise header. Shortly before that, he had suffered an unpleasant collision in a personal duel, so coach Martin Hyský decided to substitute him. Daniel Suchý, who had come up through all of Viktoria's youth categories, entered the field and made his debut on the A team.

Lukáš Červ added an insurance goal at the end of the match. He elegantly trapped the ball in the penalty area, got rid of the defender, and with a precise shot made the final score 2-0. Viktoria Plzeň thus confirmed its role as favorite and advanced to the quarterfinals of the MOL Cup.

Highlights

Photogallery