Slovácko’s unfortunate moments in the European Cup: controversial penalties and wasted lead against Partizan

Comment:: Slovácko footballers lost their chance to qualify for the spring phase of the Conference Europa League on Friday. However, as a newcomer to the competition, they put in a fighting performance, often lacking a bit of luck. What were the moments that most significantly decided their failure to advance?

15 minutes of horror against Partizan

On the very first day of play, it looked like three points for Slovácko after half-time. Leading 2: 0, Partizan Belgrade without a player sent off, the team from Uherské Hradiště failed to take the lead after the change of sides. The inexperience and quality of the visitors showed.

The coach of the visitors sent quality from the bench, Fousseni Diabate equalised with two goals, Partizan even turned the score around.

Slovácko did manage to equalise at the end, but everyone in attendance on the Moravian side knew that this should have been for three points. The toll of inexperience.

Penalty injustice against Kolín

Cologne is the only team against whom Slovácko did not score even once. At the same time, it was most unlucky against them, because the German side kicked three penalty kicks in the double match. And Slovácko was denied one at least questionable one in an away game.

Although the Moravians kept pace with Cologne in both matches, both losses were decided by penalties. Paradoxically, two of the three should not have been ordered at all, whereupon even coach Martin Svědík complained.

In this case, it was not necessarily a case of “pushing” the stronger team, the main problem is the absence of VAR at the Conference League matches. The referee has no chance to correct himself and Slovácko paid for this fact.

Nguyen’s weak moment

Goalkeeper Filip Nguyen’s cup season can be divided into two parts. He struggled in the first half of the group stage, getting goals from almost everything, but during the battles in Nice and at home against Cologne he was the main hero.

The highlight of his poor first half was the only goal in the home game against Nice, when Nicolas Pepe’s not-so-dangerous shot went through his arms.

That home loss hurt a lot, and in the final showdown, a goalless draw would have kept Slovácko still in the relegation race before the last round.

Sources: 1. FC Slovácko, UEFA Conference League