Czech Republic round-up: Poborsky fuels Sparta streak

Karel Poborsky was on target for the third match in succession as AC Sparta Praha continued their 100 per cent start to the new 1. liga season with a 3-0 home victory against FC Baník Ostrava on Saturday.

Under pressure
The former S.S. Lazio player scored the second goal in a dominant performance at the Letná stadium to keep up his record of scoring in every league match so far since returning to the Czech Republic. Baník were under pressure from the start of the match after Sparta took the lead through young striker Michal Pospisil in the sixth minute.

Poborsky strike
Sparta went 2-0 up in the 35th minute when Poborsky rounded Baník goalkeeper Jan Lastuvka after being sent clean through on goal. The pattern of the match continued in the second half and the home side scored a third goal on 58 minutes when substitute Tomáš Sivok headed in a Poborsky cross from close range.

Slovan maintain pressure
Champions FC Slovan Liberec are just two points behind Sparta after recording their second win of the season with a 2-0 home success against 1. FC Synot. Petr Johana opened the scoring for Slovan after just five minutes and David Langer added a second for the home side seven minutes after the hour mark.

Pikl the hero
A late goal from Ales Pikl secured all three points for FK Viktoria Zizkov as they overcame SK Hradec Králové 3-2 in a thrilling encounter today. Miroslav Sebesta and Ludek Straceny had put Hradec into a two-goal lead inside the first half hour, but Miroslav Zemanek pulled one back before the interval to give Zizkov hope. Pavel Krmas then headed past the Hradec keeper in the 76th minute to level the scores and leave the stage clear for Pikl's heroics.

Spoils shared
The win lifts Zizkov to third, while FK Jablonec 97 slipped to fourth after throwing away a 1-0 lead against FK Svit Zlín. Michal Hlavnovsky's 74th-minute goal cancelled out Tomas Michalek's penalty to give Zlín a share of the spoils.

Substitute sublime
In the day's other games, SK Sigma Olomouc recorded a 1-0 victory against FK Chmel Blšany courtesy of substitute Pascal Ekwueme's 84th-minute strike, CU Bohemians Praha lost out to 1. FC Brno by the odd goal in five and FK Teplice won 2-1 against SK Ceské Budéjovice.