Sparta – Liberec 2:5, the Tigers chose the O2 Arena, the two-goal lead was not enough for the Praguers

Striker Pavel Kousal, a recent signing from Mladá Boleslav, made his debut in the Prague outfit. The first act belonged to the home team. In the fourth minute, Řepík checked the attention of the goalkeeper Kváč, then the home captain tried his luck from a turn and almost missed the keeper of the Liberec goal. However, the puck ended up on the side arc of the goal.

In the seventh minute, Mikliš opened the scoring when he sent a projectile from his hockey stick to the goal at the exact moment when the players passing by in front of the goal blocked Kvač’s view. In the 14th minute, he missed Buchtel from close range, but after a while Balinskis had to go to the penalty bench, and Jandus happily increased the numerical advantage to 2:0 with a point shot.

From the second act, however, the tide began to turn. Although the home team survived the early weakening unscathed, shortly after the sinner Kousal jumped back into the game from the penalty bench, Balinskis scored. The guests came alive.

In the 35th minute, after the end of another power play, Melancon did not burn Kovář with a bomb from the circle, but Birner managed to do it a moment later and it was equalized. Shortly before the end of the second half, Safin was unable to finish the successful combination play of Prague.

Despite the even score, Sparta could not jump back into the pace even in the third period. After 47 seconds, Řepík also fouled and Birner completed the turnaround with a successful run on the power play. In the 46th minute, after Ordoš’s finish, Najman drove into the open goal, but Kovář took away his joy from an almost certain goal and kept his team within range, but only temporarily.

Just a moment later, Kovář lost his concentration for a moment and signaled the forbidden release of the visitors, but the whistle did not sound, Faško-Rudáš immediately passed in front of Filippi’s goal and the North Bohemians already led 4:2. At the end of the 54th minute, the same scorer gave them practically certainty. Erik Thorell could have given hope, but he only rang the bell on the goal structure.