Sparta Prague and Viktoria Plzeň bow out of Champions League after visitors stage comebacks

On a bleak night for Czech football both Sparta Prague and Viktoria Plzeň bowed out of the Champions League during the third qualifying round. After going two goals up in the first 16 minutes, Sparta then conceded three goals and were down to 10-men at the end of the game against CSKA Moscow. They went down on aggregate 4:5 to the Russian champions. Viktoria Plzeň had high hopes of proceeding after a first leg 2:1 away win against Maccabi Tel Aviv. The match remained goalless until the 76th minute when Eran Zahavi scored from the penalty spot and he followed up with a second seven minutes later from open play.

Author: Ruth Fraňková