Sixteen years since the first ever promotion of Slavia to the Champions League over Ajax Amsterdam

Historic moment. Slavia Prague has tried so many times to qualify for the Champions League, but has never succeeded. In the 2007/08 season, it got Ajax in the fourth round, which seemed like an impossible mission. However, after a magical night at Strahov exactly 16 years ago, the Susians managed to advance.

In the third round Slavia faced MŠK Žilina. Both matches ended in a goalless draw and the duel at Strahov had to go to penalties. The goalkeeper Martin Vaniak was the one who made the decisive penalty, the decisive penalty was converted by Stanislav Vlček.

The last demonstration before entering the dream millionaire competition was the Dutch Ajax Amsterdam. It was expected that the famous team would be beyond the strength of Prague’s Slavia.

But already in the first match Slavia showed its strength. David Kalivoda converted a penalty after a foul on Petr Janda and the Sešiovans won 1:0.

However, Ajax was still considered a big favourite. They brought to Prague stars like Stekelenburg, Heitinga, Stam, Huntelaar and Suárez.

Home rematch

Martin Vaniak in particular had his day. After this match, the goalkeeper of Slavia was turned into a wizard, because what he managed to save from the Ajax players, he was left with his wits about him.

However, Slavia had their chances too. In the 13th minute Stanislav Vlček found himself alone in front of goalkeeper Stekelenburg, but he got an angle and did not shoot the runner.

In the 22nd minute Slavia took the lead! A corner was played by David Kalivoda, the Ajax defenders failed to play the ball out of the penalty area even three times, Tavares managed to extend his header to Vlček, who uncompromisingly beat Stekelenburg with his right foot.

Eleven minutes later, however, the game was level, Suárez alone in front of Vaniak sent the ball along the ground into the opposite corner of the goal. At that point, Strahov went pretty quiet as Ajax only needed one goal to advance.

And in the second half, Ajax also started to create some serious pressure. But that’s when Vaniak started to work his magic. In the 68th minute, he wonderfully cleared a header from Stam, and five minutes later he converted two huge chances from Suárez.

Just as Ajax were about to put on the final pressure, there was a shock. In the 86th minute, Mickael Tavares set up a counter-attack after an Ajax direct kick, played the ball to Stand Vlček who, facing Stekelenburg, outmuscled the Dutch goalkeeper and sent the whole Strahov into a huge euphoria.

“Stanislav Vlček sends Slavia to the Champions League! He’s a hero… a villain. If Prague could tap into the energy that is now coming out of Strahov Stadium, the place would be lit up for 14 more days,” proclaimed euphoric commentator Jaroslav Bosák, whose phrases have become humanised.

Slavia certainly didn’t disgrace themselves in their first appearance in the Champions League group stage. Although it scored seven goals against Arsenal, it managed to get a draw in the return leg and, moreover, after a win and a draw with Steaua Bucharest, it advanced to the spring phase of the UEFA Cup.

Source: UEFA, Youtube