Conference league
Horror in Wales! Pilsen lost, but managed to reduce the difference to two goals
Viktoria Plzeň lost to TNS in Wales in the 3rd round of the Conference Europa League. The rematch will still be playable thanks to two goals before the end of the match.
Viktoria Plzeň lost to TNS in Wales in the 3rd round of the Conference Europa League. The rematch will still be playable thanks to two goals before the end of the match.
Plzeň travelled to Cardiff, Wales, where a match of the 3rd preliminary round of the European Conference League against TNS was on the schedule. A recovered Pavel Bucha started the historic first match between the Czech and Welsh clubs in the European Cups.
The Westerners dictated the pace of the game at the start of the match and could have scored the first goal as early as the 5th minute. Kayamba’s shot was parried by goalkeeper Harrison at the feet of Šulc, who had the goal uncovered. He was in the same situation in the home game against Brest where he converted but this time he only hit the bar of the net.
The Victorians failed to turn away to safety the Welshmen’s first corner kick and allowed Smith to centre into the penalty area again. The centre found Husdon who headed home the first goal of the game.
The big problem for the Victorians came in the 31st minute when the Estonian referee awarded a highly controversial penalty. McManus stepped up to the ten and converted it with ease.
The Victorians then tried to reduce the score. Kacer’s shot or Beauguel’s header attempt ended outside the three bars and Šulc missed the ball after a beautiful dribble by Kayamba. TNS therefore won the first half 2: 0, making the most of the minimum.
Victoria also entered the second half in horror. Jakub Brabec made a big blunder when he was stripped of the ball in the penalty area by Smith. He tried to wrestle it back but succeeded at the cost of a penalty kick.
McManus again stepped up to take the penalty. Hruska caught the side of the shot but couldn’t clear the ball and therefore fished the ball out of the net as the TNS players celebrated a three-goal lead.
The Westerners kept the ball constantly in the Welsh club’s half, but the only dangerous header came from Beauguel, whose attempt was cleared by goalkeeper Harrison.
In contrast, McManus went up against a pair of defending players in the 76th minute and shot through them and even got past goalkeeper Pear to celebrate his hat-trick.
Out of the constant pressure, the Pilsen players finally managed to correct the result. After Mosquera’s centre, Chorý missed the ball perfectly. However, the ball fell to Beauguel, who pushed the ball into the net in the 89th minute.
In the end, Viktoria will take a playable result into the rematch. Substitute Ba Loua got to a deflected ball and beat the TNS defence and goalkeeper with a beautiful shot.
Source: European Conference League
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