Hradec Králové beat Sparta Prague 2:1 at Malšovice Arena in the Czech League's seventh round on Saturday. The hosts took a two-goal lead before Adam Karabec pulled one back for the visitors. It was a result that left Sparta still in tenth place with nine points after seven games.
Vladimír Darida opened the scoring in the tenth minute, and Mick Van Buren doubled the advantage fifteen minutes later. Sparta responded through Karabec in the thirty-sixth minute, but the visitors could not find an equaliser despite having the majority of possession.
The match statistics tell a familiar story. Sparta had seventy per cent of the ball and 102 attacks to Hradec's 65, yet the home side registered five shots on target for two goals compared to six on target for one. Hradec also made more clearances and blocked six shots, while Sparta struggled to convert their dominance into a second goal.
Substitutions came thick and fast in the second half. Tom Sloncik was the first change at fifty-two minutes, followed by Andy Irving and Jaroslav Zelený for Sparta at fifty-seven. Josimar Alcocer was withdrawn for Hradec at sixty-nine, and Samuel Dancak came on at seventy-one. Ki-Jana Hoever and Loïc Mbe Soh were paired for Sparta at eighty-three, with Daniel Trubač and Tomáš Čvančara also brought on.
Yellow cards were handed out throughout: Ki-Jana Hoever at three minutes, Josimar Alcocer and Mick Van Buren together at forty-three, John Mercado at fifty-nine, Roman Macek at sixty-eight, Tomáš Čvančara at eighty, and Vladimír Darida in the eighty-ninth. The hosts managed to tighten things up after Karabec's goal and held their nerve to take all three points.
The result means Hradec Králové move to eighth place with ten points from six games, while Sparta Prague remain on nine points after seven matches. The draw brought them together early in the season, but this victory will give the home side confidence as they look to climb the table.
