line-ups

FC Viktoria Plzeň

Wiegele – Prebsl, Krčík, Dweh, K. Spáčil – Pirgić (72. Červ), Hrošovský – Memić (77. Souaré), Sojka (66. Lawal), Kabongo (71. Višinský) – M. Vydra (C) (66. Ladra).

FC Zbrojovka Brno

Hrdina – Jakub Klíma (C), Vedral, Kaká, Dante (87. Zmrhal) – L. Penxa, Saal (46. P. Ševčík), Janetzký, Vachoušek (79. Rymarenko) – Ezeh (68. Vaníček), Vašulín (79. Velich).

statistics

Goals: 14. Kabongo (Sojka) – 58. Vašulín (Vachoušek)

Yellow cards: 45+2. Pirgić (PLZ) – 2. Saal (BNO), 49. Dante (BNO), 90+1. Vaníček (BNO)

Referees: Starý – Slavíček, Cichra

Shots on goal: 2:2

Shots off target: 8:4

Corners: 5:2

Offside: 0:1

Fouls: 13:11

Attendance: 10108

Plzeň took the lead in the first half thanks to a header from Christophe Kabongo, but Zbrojovka equalised after the break as the match ended in a 1–1 draw. Viktoria created several chances in the closing stages but were unable to find the winning goal.

The match, marked by the long-standing friendship between the supporters of both clubs, began with Viktoria on the front foot. In the 7th minute, Sampson Dweh switched play to Amar Memić, who laid the ball off for Patrik Hrošovský, but his cross into the box failed to find a teammate. Five minutes later, Florian Wiegele was called into action for the first time and produced a fine save. Viktoria took the lead in the 15th minute. Following an Aleksandr Sojka corner, Christophe Kabongo rose highest to head home and put the hosts in front. Five minutes later, the West Bohemians came close to doubling their advantage. Another Sojka corner found Matěj Vydra, whose header took a deflection and wrong-footed the goalkeeper, but he managed to keep it out with his foot. Kabongo threatened again a few minutes later, beating his defender with a clever stepover before aiming for the far post. Memić reacted quickest to the rebound, but his follow-up effort flew over the bar. Viktoria continued to dominate and allowed Zbrojovka very little space, with the home defence comfortably dealing with every attacking attempt. In the 36th minute, Wiegele launched a long kick from his own penalty area to send Memić through on goal, but the move did not result in a clear chance. The Austrian goalkeeper also dealt confidently with every cross into the box throughout the first half, claiming all the high balls with ease. Zbrojovka threatened only in the closing moments before the break, but failed to hit the target. Viktoria therefore went into half-time with a deserved 1–0 lead.

Viktoria also started the second half brightly. In the 50th minute, Matěj Vydra got on the end of another set-piece, but his header went over the crossbar. A minute later, Patrik Hrošovský produced a moment of brilliance, dribbling past several opponents inside his own half before playing a superb through ball to Memić. The Bosnian forward got his shot away but failed to hit the target. Zbrojovka equalised in the 58th minute. Daniel Vašulín latched onto a long clearance, controlled the ball, lifted it over the defender and beat Florian Wiegele to make it 1–1. The equaliser gave the visitors confidence and Brno began to enjoy more of the game. In the 63rd minute, they threatened from a corner, but Wiegele came off his line well to punch the ball clear. Shortly after coming on, Tomáš Ladra cut inside and fired towards goal, but his effort was blocked by a defender. In the 76th minute, Memić delivered a dangerous cross into the penalty area, but none of his teammates could get on the end of it. A minute later, Pavel Šulc? (No—Červ and Spáčil combined well, with Spáčil eventually shooting from the edge of the area, but his effort drifted wide.) Soon afterwards, Ladra came agonisingly close to restoring Viktoria's lead, smashing a powerful shot against the crossbar. Viktoria pushed hard in the closing stages, pinning Zbrojovka back in their own half, but despite several late opportunities, the winning goal never came. The match therefore ended in a 1–1 draw, with the points shared in Doosan Arena.