Lafata strikes twice as Sparta beat Young Boys

• David Lafata scores twice for Sparta, one in each half 
• First win in four against Swiss opposition for Sparta
• Next games: Slovan v Sparta, Young Boys v Napoli (23 October)

Two goals from David Lafata helped to fend off the challenge from BSC Young Boys as AC Sparta Praha earned their first three points in UEFA Europa League Group I.

Sparta, who had won all three of their previous home games in Europe this season – racking up 14 goals in the process – claimed their first win in four against Swiss opposition at the Stadion Letná.

Looking for their first win in the group, the Czech side dominated the first half. Ladislav Krejčí tried to outsmart Young Boys goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo with a fifth-minute free-kick but his effort was saved comfortably. Mvogo then dived to his right-hand side to keep out another free-kick, this time from Bořek Dočkal, as the one-way traffic continued.

Young Boys were eventually undone as Sparta scored scored twice in 90 seconds. Lukáš Vácha hit an incredible opener for the hosts in the 27th minute,volleying in off the bar after controlling Dočkal's corner first-time with his knee. Lafata then found the bottom right corner to double the lead after evading his marker to latch onto Tiémoko Konaté's cut-back.

A brilliant save from Sparta goalkeeper David Bičík denied Milan Gajić, as the visitors finally applied some pressure, but Guillaume Hoarau's bullet-header from Scott Sutter's cross reduced the two-goal deficit after the break. However, Lafata grabbed his second five minutes from time after a wonderful move involving Krejčí and Dočkal to seal the win for the hosts.