It had been half an hour into Malmö FF’s Champions League playoff against Sparta Prague when Malmö got their first cold shower.
The ball was controlled via MFF defender Jens Stryger Larsen’s legs and into the own goal.
– A lucky destination. He shoots and doesn’t quite hit the ball and then it hits me and then Johan (Dahlin, goalkeeper) is close to reaching it. But yes, football margins, says Stryger Larsen.
Malmö occasionally pushed for an equaliser, but they never got the ball in.
In the middle of the second half, Sparta Prague had a great chance to make it 2-0 when a cross reached Martin Vitik, but he couldn’t get the ball in.
It took until the last minutes of the match before the second goal then came through substitute Matej Rynes.
– The critical thing is that they score two goals, really without chances. It hurts to concede two fairly easy goals. Obviously a disappointment, but also a belief that we can go there and get a good result, says Christiansen.
This means that Malmö go to Prague with a 2-0 deficit when the return is played on Tuesday. The team that wins the double-header will play in the Champions League this autumn, while the Europa League awaits the losers.
UEFA Champions League
Malmö FF
0 – 2
Sparta Prague
