Plzeň secured a 32-27 win on the road against Strakonice in the Extraliga on Friday evening. The visitors took all three points in a match that stayed tight until the final whistle. It was a result that validated the confidence we placed in the away side.
And here's the thing — you could feel the momentum shift in the closing stages. Strakonice pushed back, but Plzeň refused to go away. They kept their composure when it mattered most, and that experience showed through.
To be fair, both sides have been trading goals in recent outings. Strakonice's last five matches saw them score between 27 and 34 goals, while Plzeň's recent runs produced similar numbers — 23 to 35 goals per game. This wasn't a statistical anomaly; it was business as usual for both teams.
We had given Plzeň a 66 per cent chance of victory, and they delivered. By then, the prediction wasn't guesswork — it was based on watching how these teams handle pressure away from home. Plzeň's away record had always been stronger, and this match confirmed it.
Neither side moved in the table, of course. Both sit at zero games played, zero points — the standings say nothing yet. What this match did was set a tone. Plzeň showed they can compete anywhere, and Strakonice proved they can score at will at home.