21st round of the first football league: Viktoria Plzeň – Slovan Liberec, February 25, 2023 Plzeň. Jhon Mosquera from Pilsen celebrates a goal.
Pilsen – The footballers of Pilsen won the 21st round of the first league at home over Liberec 2:1. The defending champions returned to the top of the incomplete table by a point ahead of Slavia, who will welcome Slovácko on Sunday. Ninth Slovan did not win in the top competition for the third time in a row.
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Photo gallery: First Football League 2022/23
Viktoria was put in the lead in the 21st minute by Jan Kopic during the jubilee 300th match in the top competition. At the beginning of the second half, Lubomír Tupta responded, but in the 68th minute, substitute Jhon Mosquera decided with a goal against his former team. Pilsen beat Liberec in the league for the fourth time in a row.
The home coach Bílek made two changes to the starting line-up since the last lost game in Slovácko (0:2). Holík started in defense, while Pernica started on the bench. Vlkanova replaced Vydra in the midfield.
After a cautious start, Liberec created its first big chance in the 20th minute. Rondič ran for the home defense, but he did not surprise the goalkeeper Staňek with a shot from an angle.
Plzeň immediately opened the scoring. After Sýkor's cross, Chorý headed into the crossbar and an uncovered Kopic scored the third goal of the league season with a header from the crossbar. The 32-year-old midfielder thus celebrated his 300th game and entry into the Club of Legends in style. In the top competition, Kopic scored a total of 56 goals.
The even fight continued in the rest of the first half. A minute before the break, Buch's shot was blocked by the visiting goalkeeper Bačkovský. His teammates and Viktoria kept up, but did not reach the finish line.
The home team entered the second half very actively. Liberec was saved from the second conceded goal by Bačkovský, who promptly saved Jemelk's attempt after a standard situation.
Liberec equalized in the 52nd minute when Tupta beat Staňko after an individual action and a shot to the post. The Slovakian striker scored in the second league match in a row. The West Bohemians conceded in the sixth round in a row.
The reigning champions could soon take the lead back, but Bačkovský was helped by the crossbar after Havel's header and then the visiting goalkeeper knocked the ball past Chorý.
Viktoria broke through in the 68th minute. After a standard situation, Jemelka passed to a free Mosquer in the penalty area, who quickly beat Bačkovski. The Colombian winger did not celebrate the goal against his former team. Mosquera scored for the seventh time in the league season and for the first time since October.
In the end, the West Bohemians did not let their opponents under more pressure and at home against Slovan they scored in the tenth of the last eleven duels in the top flight.
21. round of the first football league:
Viktoria Plzeň – Slovan Liberec 2:1 (1:0)
Goals: 21. Kopic, 68. Mosquera – 52. Tupta. Referee: Berka – Vlček, Machač – Petřík (video). ŽK: Hejda, Mosquera (both Pilsen). Spectators: 8263.
Lineups:
Pilsen: Staněk – Holík, Hejda, Jemelka, Havel – Bucha, Květ – Kopic (90.+5 Jirka), Vlkanova (61. Mosquera ), Sýkora (77. Pernica) – Sick. Coach: Bílek.
Liberec: Bačkovský – Plechatý, Prebsl, Purzitidis – Ndefe (78. Mészáros), Červ, Valenta, Doumbia (69. Frýdek), Preisler (78. Kozák) – Rondič (69. Olatunji), Tupta (85. Rabušic). Coach: Kozel.
