A glimpse of the past: only one goal was missed against Ferencváros. Like against Vigo

One goal was enough for Slavia Prague to force extra time against Hungarian side Ferencvárosi Torna Club and a chance to qualify for the next round of the Champions League. Despite a huge advantage, a one-goal game, it was not possible. The same feeling of frustration was experienced by the players in the red and white jerseys in the 2003/2004 edition, when one shot was enough to equalise the lead of Spanish side Celta Vigo.

The position of the opponents was clear:: Vigo is the clear favourite, Slavia has no chance. Perhaps in a frenzied constellation of circumstances, but not in game terms. After all, the opening match of the 3rd Champions League preliminary round on the Iberian Peninsula clearly fulfilled the assumptions – 3: 0 for the home team. The rematch was supposed to be a formality….

But it wasn’t. The Red and Whites attacked their opponents with great vigour. Already in the 29th minute the score was tied – 18. Dostálek, 29. Hrdlička. If the first half had been played for five more minutes, Vigo would probably have collapsed completely.

“We caught them completely by surprise, we didn’t keep up. I think the third goal before half-time would have really broken them,” recalls team captain Richard Dostálek.

But after the break, Vigo stiffened up their defence and defended their lead with a huge amount of luck. “It was short, but we couldn’t push the third goal in,” sighs the running midfielder with a knack for finishing.

The similarity with the recent match against Ferencváros is striking, as the visitors were shorthanded then as well. But otherwise there was not much of a match. “Vigo was a big favourite, the result of the first game was a testimony to that. However, they underestimated us in the rematch, so we were looking for a sensation,”Dostálek says.

“Vigo was a big team, fighting for the title in Spain. Ferencváros did not reach such qualities, Slavia was clearly better, which makes the elimination all the more regrettable,” he returns to the present.

That’s why he didn’t immediately think of Vigo when his followers fell to the ground after the final whistle.

“Our generation will be haunted for the rest of their lives by the missed opportunity against Shakhtar Donetsk (2000/2001 edition), when we won away and it was enough to keep a goalless draw at home,” he shudders, even years later.

“Vigo were better, even if they were only a goal away from a chance to go through,” Dostalek points out. Like now against Ferencváros.

Source: UEFA