Poborsky helps Sparta Prague through to group stage
Karel Poborsky scored again as Sparta Prague sneaked through to the lucrative Champions League group stage on Tuesday with a 2-2 draw against Vardar Skopje of Macedonia. The draw gave the Czech champions a 5-4 aggregate victory in the third qualifying round tie.
Karel Poborsky scored again as Sparta Prague sneaked through to the lucrative Champions League group stage on Tuesday with a 2-2 draw against Vardar Skopje of Macedonia. The draw gave the Czech champions a 5-4 aggregate victory in the third qualifying round tie.
Sparta were indebted to former Manchester United midfielder Poborsky for two goals, including an 89th-minute winner, in their 3-2 first-leg win in Macedonia two weeks ago.
He steadied Sparta's nerves again on Tuesday by cancelling out Slavco Georgievski's 30th-minute opener against the run of play for Vardar.
Poborsky's right-footed drive from the edge of the penalty area four minutes later made it 1-1 and allowed the Czech champions some breathing space at halftime.
Nigerian Bless'ng Chinedu Anyanviu gave the home side some more anxious moments when he put Vardar up 2-1 in the 67th minute but substitute Libor Sionko pulled Sparta back level in the 82nd minute.
The Macedonian side continued to push forward but could not find the third goal they needed to take the match into extra time.