Viktoria, which has not played in the main stage of the cups in the last three seasons, will secure a minimum bonus of around 75 million crowns in the event of promotion through HJK.
“The result is good. With that, we came here to win such a result so that we would have a slight advantage in the rematch. We succeeded. The match was not easy, we also saw that we ran into an opponent who is well played,” said Pilsen coach Michal White.
The guests got off to an excellent start in the first competitive match of the season. After Buch’s shot, captain Tenho played in the penalty area with his hand and Chorý safely converted the penalty already in the sixth minute. “I was designated for the penalty, I immediately took it because I believed in it,” said striker Chorý.
Viktoria could have added a second goal in half an hour. After a blocked shot, the ball fell to Choré, who himself did not shoot in front of goalkeeper Hazard and unsuccessfully looked for Havel. Moments later, Hejd’s shot was disallowed due to Řezník’s offside.
“That was my first thought. I saw him (Havla) there and I wanted to give it to him. As soon as I did it, I knew I had it under my foot, but I should have put it under the wing. I could have given two , it doesn’t matter,” stated Chorý.
At the end of the first half, Helsinki players created three great chances to equalize. Goalkeeper Staněk first reflexively pulled out Radulović’s header, and the Serbian striker hit the crossbar with a volley in the 41st minute. Before that, Tenho headed just wide.
The West Bohemians were not confident defensively even after the change of sides and conceded in the 50th minute. Staněk blocked Hostikka’s attempt, but the advancing Radulović had already shot between the Pilsen goalkeeper’s legs.
However, the guests recovered quickly and took the lead back in seven minutes. Bucha pushed the ball to Kopic with his foot, and after an elegant release, he hit the ground exactly to the post.
“Buchič put it down well for me, I pushed the player away and hit it on the front post with my left. As it went over the first player, I knew that the goalkeeper couldn’t see the shot and didn’t jump. Nice goal, I hope it will be a progressive one,” said Kopic .
The conclusion of the premier cup confrontation between the Finnish and Czech teams did not offer much chance. Also because Viktoria bet on total defensiveness and did not let the thirty-one-time Finnish champion under pressure.
“We won’t have anything easy at home either. But I believe that the stadium will be full, people will cheer us on and that we will simply push for a result that will guarantee us progress. I already said that we are only interested in progress,” said Bílek. “We won’t leave them a meter of space at home. I’m looking forward to it, I believe a lot of our fans will come. I believe we’ll show them hell in the auditorium and on the field,” Chorý added.
If Plzeň advances, they will face the better of the pair NK Maribor/Šeriff Tiraspol in the 3rd preliminary round of the Champions League. If the West Bohemians and HJK are eliminated, paradoxically they will meet Maribor or Tiraspol in the 3rd preliminary round of the Europa League.
