Viktoria Žižkov ended Spartak Polička nad Metují's Cup hopes with a 4-2 victory in the Round of 128 on Tuesday evening. The visitors controlled the tempo from the opening minutes and never looked back after going ahead inside seven minutes. Spartak pulled one back before the break but could not find a second equaliser to stay in the tie.
Žižkov struck twice in quick succession to take the lead. J. Vlcek opened the scoring in the fourth minute and F. Adeshina added a second three minutes later. Spartak responded through M. Honig in the 43rd minute to level matters before the interval, but the hosts could not maintain their momentum after the restart.
By then Žižkov had recovered their composure and took control of the game. P. Rybicka restored the two-goal advantage in the 54th minute before D. Farka extended the lead in the 73rd. Spartak's late goal through M. Honig felt hollow as M. Jirasek sealed the victory in the 88th minute.
The statistics tell a familiar story. Žižkov held 62 per cent possession and registered eight shots on target compared to three from Spartak. The hosts managed only two corners while the visitors claimed four, and Spartak picked up two bookings in the second half as frustration mounted.
And here's the thing — this result does not signal a collapse for Spartak. They lost 0-4 to Hradec Králové II last season, and Tuesday's performance shows a team still finding its footing. Žižkov's recent form has been inconsistent, losing 4-1 to Vyškov on the opening day, but they showed enough composure to see the game out against a spirited opposition.
The victory takes Žižkov into the next round where they will face the winner of another tie. Spartak's season continues in league play, and they need to regroup quickly after this Cup disappointment.