A window to the past: Sparta survived a penalty martyrdom against Copenhagen. Like 25 years ago against Dynamo Kiev

The dream of the Champions League has vanished. After an excellent performance and a good starting position – a goalless draw in Denmark, Sparta Prague lost to Copenhagen in the preliminary round of the prestigious competition in a penalty shootout. Just like 25 years ago in the clash with Dynamo Kiev.

Back then, the stakes from the first duel on the opponents’ soil to the rematch were not only hopeful, downright dreamy. The Ukrainian team was one of the giants, with only the attacking duo of Serhiy Rebrov and Andriy Shevchenko (Ballon d’Or 2004) evoking the greatest admiration. And the whole team was riddled with international level players.

Sparta, however, stood their ground in the Ukrainian capital, with Pavel Novotny, the 1996 European vice-champion who came through the training structure of Slavia Prague and returned to Eden at the end of his career, scoring a header after Baranko’s centre. But at that moment he was the idol of the Reds.

But the rematch brought not one hill of bad luck, but a whole barrel of it. The promotion tie was ruined in the penultimate minute by an own goal from substitute Petr Gabriel, a participant in the 2000 European Championship.

“The goal we got was terribly unfortunate because the ball I knocked in hit the onrushing Gabriel and from him the ball went into the net. What a shame,” said goalkeeper Tomáš Poštulka after the match.

But it wasn’t over yet, there was still hope. With the game evenly balanced, the shots came from the penalty kick mark. Sparta had a lot to fall back on: mature shooters and a skilful goalkeeper.

Poštulka, a member of the elite club of centurions, was a renowned penalty taker. “I believed I could take penalties, and in the end I was even successful twice,” he pointed out, noting that Konovalov and Shevchenko in particular hadn’t beaten him. “But I guess God didn’t want us to advance,” he turned a reproachful gaze heavenward.

The Lord God, of course, is somewhat innocent in all this. Votava, Stracený and Baranek failed in their attempts to overcome the excellent Ukrainian goalkeeper Šovkovský, while Čížek, who was renowned for his kicking technique, sent the only ball into the net.

The authors of more than a hundred league goals, strikers Horst Siegl and Vratislav Lokvnec, were able to stand up for the magic point, while European vice-champions Pavel Novotny and Michal Hornak were available.

Why less experienced players, some of whom were not even among the scorers with peace of mind, took the responsibility at the decisive moment is constantly discussed. Coach Zdeněk Ščasný once lamented only somewhat in an aside that the team’s mainstays did not have that courage.

Sparta did not win the Champions League in 1998/1999.

Source: UEFA