Hardy(T)'s World Soccer Diary

17/8/96, Prague, Czech Republic. I Ligy.

AC Sparta Praha 2
FC Petra Drnovice 2
Att: 5,659 at the Stadion AC Sparta

After the previous days' excitement at Dukla Prague, it seemed like an act of treachery to go along and support arch rivals Sparta. But, hey, it was the first home game of the season, and what else does one do on a Saturday afternoon in Prague?

 

We very nearly didn't make it. Because of immense hangovers and the like, we left it very late arriving at the ground and were astonished by the size of the queues outside the Stadium. This, it turned out, wasn't because of a hugely enthusiastic early season crowd, but down to woefully inadequate stadium organisation. Sparta had decided to open only a single turnstile, and were actually printing individual tickets as they were being sold! (The "no guns, baseball bats, knives, bombs or fireworks" sign at the gate was at least reassuring).

 

So, arriving at our excellent seats above the half-way line 20 minutes into the game, we were astonished to find the ground virtually empty! By this time, despite looking in total command of the game, Sparta were 0-1 down. Early in the second half, Sparta equalised but were then reduced to ten men following a particularly vicious tackle. This didn't deter the home side, who deservedly went 2-1 up. The standard of football was surprisingly high, given that both sides had been decimated in the close season, due to their members of the Czech Euro 96 championship side defecting to the west in search of fame and fortune. (Sparta had lost Nedved and goalkeeper Kouba from the previous season's side).

 

Despite being 2-1 up and in apparent control, Sparta did look vulnerable on the break. We also liked the look of Petra's nippy No.11 (who's name we unfortunately never discovered) who was causing the Sparta defence all manner of problems. Inevitably it was the No.11 who equalised in injury time. My companion McGrady couldn't control his excitement and leapt about 6 feet in the air, much to the obvious chagrin of the surrounding Sparta fans. At least we weren't going to get shot, clubbed, stabbed, bombed or rocketed but our chances of getting out of the ground in one piece didn't look too good...

Disgruntled Sparta fans leave the stadium

 

..luckily we did manage to get out alive, so you can read more of my adventures in Hardy(T)'s World Soccer Diary, or return to the main Round the World page.