It is already two days since Sparta’s dramatic match with Pilsen (2:1), one of the key matches in the fight for the title is still alive among the public. The most logical penalty situation from the 98th minute at the hands of Lukáš Hejda.
Sparta could have already been out of the game for the title if they had not been able to finish the game twice in a row at home. The breaking of the match in the last minutes was a problem for Letenské in previous years, which cost them greater competitiveness.
However, against Slavia, Brian Priske’s men showed a solid root for the first time. First, they overcame a 0-2 deficit, then when Igoh Ogbu restored the red and white lead to 3-2, they started the pressure, which culminated in an own goal by Aiham Ousou.
Ten days later, Sparta caught up again. Jan Kuchta equalized against Plzeň, and in the eighth minute of regulation, referee Pavel Orel ordered a penalty kick for Lukáš Hejda’s hand. Ladislav Krejčí took the ball and confidently converted the penalty.
“It shows that he is in an excellent mental state. The players believe that they have a chance to turn the game around until the last moment. Now it has paid off twice for them to fight to the very end.” wrote David Bičík in his comment for Aktuálně.cz.
The Spartans kicked a penalty in the third match in a row, while Krejčí also converted the previous two. Orel could have whistled more of them in the match. On the one hand, after the intervention on Kuchta, on the other hand, there was a borderline fall of Tomáš Choré in the first half.
Paradoxically, the head referee chose the least penalty situation. Although Lukáš Hejda played with his hand, he had it in a natural position next to his body. When we look at which hand, for example, West Ham did not take a penalty against Liverpool on Wednesday, the verdict of the Eagles is questionable to say the least.
“Losing with a penalty like that in the 104th minute is scary. At a time like this, I would order her only for a truly criminal foul. The ball undoubtedly touched Hejd’s hand, I don’t want to say that the referee made a mistake, I just have my opinion on it. But in my opinion it would have to be a clean hand, not such a strange one,” continued the former goalkeeper of Sparta.
It was not the first time this year that one of the Czech referees insensitively blew the penalty at the very end. At the beginning of the spring part of the season, Pardubice lost a win over Olomouc in the setup, when the referees evaluated a light tackle on Mojmír Chytil as illegal.
“I agree with the rule that hockey players profess – only murders are whistled in overtime, with apologies. And that should also apply in football,” added Bičík.
Source: Currently.cz
