Football club FC Baník Ostrava advanced to the next round of the Czech domestic cup, overcoming second-division side SK Kladno 2–1 in extra time during a hard-fought MOL Cup third-round fixture. Ukrainian center-back Yevhenii Skyba opened the scoring for the top-flight visitors right before halftime on September 23, 2026, before David Jurčenko leveled for the hosts shortly after the break.
A Nervous Night in Central Bohemia
Playing away at Kladno’s stadium, Baník manager Roman Skuhravý opted to rotate his squad and hand opportunities to players from the wider roster, according to match reports from ČTK. The decision nearly backfired against a Kladno side playing as a newly promoted team in the second tier. The hosts controlled long stretches of the first half, pushing the top-flight visitors onto the back foot and even striking the goalpost early in the contest.
Despite Kladno’s early pressure, Baník found the breakthrough just before the interval. Defender Yevhenii Skyba reacted quickest inside the penalty area to bundle the ball home from close range, marking his first official competitive goal for the Silesian club.
Kladno Strikes Back and Tests Baník’s Resolve
The home side refused to fold after the restart. Just eight minutes into the second half, in the 53rd minute, David Jurčenko met a precise cross into the box and directed a clean header toward the far post past the reach of the Baník goalkeeper to equalize at 1–1.
The scoreline remained deadlocked through the remainder of regular time as the second-division side successfully frustrated their opponents from the top tier of Czech football. With the regulation 90 minutes expiring level, the fixture moved into an additional thirty minutes of extra time.
Late Drama Seals the Cup Progression
Midfielder Dominik Kohút spotted an opening in the 119th minute and delivered a sharp through ball that split the Kladno defense, sending Václav Jurečka clean through on goal. Jurečka kept his composure in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper, slotting home the decisive goal to rescue Ostrava from an early cup exit.
The hard-earned victory provides a psychological boost for Baník, who entered the fixture sitting 11th in the top-flight standings and seeking momentum after collecting just a single point from their previous four league matches. For Kladno, the exit brings an end to a spirited cup run that thoroughly tested a heavily favored opponent.
Domestic Cup Landscape
With the conclusion of this fixture, the third round of the MOL Cup nears its completion. The bulk of the tournament’s third-round matches took place the previous week. According to tournament tracking, SK Sigma Olomouc remains the only top-flight club eliminated prior to this round’s final fixtures, leaving the remaining contenders to fight for a place deeper in the competition.
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