Due to the results of both teams, the “Invaders” were slight favorites at the end of the regular season, but the beginning went much better for Hanák. Vodháněl emphatically weaved his way in front of the goalkeeper and his solo was neutralized by Zadražil.
The guests then struck from a low-key move. With a long pass from the middle of the pitch, Ventúr pushed Šíp behind the defense and the midfielder lobbed his head over the surprised goalkeeper. He scored his second goal in the league season.
However, the home side made a big comeback before the break. After a corner kick, Petr Juliš fired and Chvátal knocked the ball into his own net. The experienced Pilař threw away a great chance, but East Bohemia did not have to regret it.
Photo: David Taneček, CTK
From the left, Daniel Horák and goal scorer Petr Juliš from Hradec Králové celebrate in the duel with Olomouc.
At the end of the half, Olomouc was penalized twice for frivolous losses of the ball. First, Vašulín caught goalkeeper Stoppen with a shot from a distance and scored his sixth goal in the league season. And only two minutes later, the guests gave the ball to Horák. The defender did not disdain the offer, following five months he scored once more and moved to five goals in the year of the top competition.
Visiting coach Saňák reacted with a double substitution at the break, but the chances continued to increase on the home team’s side. Defender Klím, playing his 150th league duel, overshot, Juliš’s pinpoint shot hit the post. Stoppen was also threatened by substitute Čmelík, and Kodeš might score following a corner. In a promising position, Spáčil might not react in time.
The paper assumptions were thus fulfilled. While Sigma won only one of the last seven league matches, the East Bohemians lost only one goal to Sparta and Slavia in the last 12 matches.
The first football league – opening match of the semifinals of the group for Europe: FC Hradec Králové – Sigma Olomouc 3:1 (3:1) Goals: 20th own Chvátal, 42nd Vašulín, 44th Horák – 13th Šíp. Referee: Radina – Kotík, Pochylý – Zelinka (video). ŽK: Harazim – Matys. Spectators: 6529. Hradec: Zadražil – Klíma, Kodeš, Spáčil – Harazim, Kučera, Dancák, Horák – P. Juliš (63. Čmelík), Pilař (82. Pudhorocký) – Vašulín (74. Koubek). Coach: Horejš. Olomouc: Stoppen – Chvátal, Pokorný, Matys, Uriča – Ventúra (46. Langer), Breite – Vodháněl (29. Zorvan), Pospíšil (46. Singhateh), Šíp (77. Muritala) – Zifčák. Coach: Sledge.
