For this match Vrba used the new signing, centre back Jakub Brabec, who replaced suspended Hubník and injured Hejda. Viktoria was in leading thanks to penalty kick by Hrošovský, the score was even increased to 2-0 by Chorý after the break. The visitors reduced the margin in stoppage time by Juřena’s goal. Erik Pačinda played his first minutes for Viktoria.

22nd round, Mon 25th Feb 2019, 18:00, City stadium

Opava: Šrom – Simerský, Svozil, Žídek, Hrabina – Řezníček (80. Jursa), Zavadil – Zapalač (61. Stáňa), Schaffartzik (68. Juřena), Jurečka – Smola

Plzeň: Hruška – Brabec, Havel, Pernica, Limberský – Hrošovský, Procházka – Hořava (67. Čermák), Kovařík, Kayamba (89. Pačinda) – Chorý (84. Bakoš)

Goals: 90+2. Juřena – 24. Hrošovský (pen), 79. Chorý, YC: Žídek, Svozil, Zavadil – Brabec, Chorý, Hruška, Referees: Lerch – Koval, Vlček.
Attendance: 5186.

The hosts had a good effort on goal right at the beginning. After Brabec’s foul, for which he was immediately shown a yellow card, Pavel Zavadil took a free kick. Opava’s player confirmed his reputation of a footballer with great kicking skills and perfectly passed to Smola’s head into the box but Aleš Hruška performed great. The following hit was after whistled off-side and so it did not threaten the goal.

Viktorians opened the score when the goalkeeper Šrom fouled on Roman Procházka in the box and Patrik Hrošovský scored from a penalty kick. The home team kicked a free kick by Zavadil but even this time they failed in the scoring phase.

After a break the home team was more dangerous again because of the corner but Simerský shot off the goal… Plzeň also missed the chances they created. Chorý volleyed the ball from the edge of the box but finally missed. Jakub Brabec was also close to scoring several minutes later but he also missed the target.

Tomáš Chorý finally scored. He got a long crossed ball and after cooperation with Hrošovský he increased to 2-0 for Viktoria.

Opava could reduce the score before the end when Zavadil passed the ball to Václav Juřena who placed it behind Aleš Hruška. This situation happened in stoppage time and Viktoria did not let their opponent to any drama and finally won.

Pavel Vrba’s Commentary

 “The match was very demanding. We had very hard last 14 days and this series graduated by today’s fifth match. We met an opponent who was perfectly prepared, run a lot and was agressive in tackles…It was very difficult for us, Opava played great. I’m very happy of course we won and gained 3 points.“