Fantastic! Viagem won in Tábor and, after six rounds, top the Second Division

Following their elimination from the domestic MOL Cup, Ústí put in a disciplined and determined performance away at Táborsko, which earned them another three points and allowed them to retain their lead at the top of the second-tier league table.

The first half did not offer much in the way of fine football. The game proceeded without any clear-cut chances, and both sides made a number of errors. The visitors threatened following a scramble in front of Pastornický’s goal, but their attempt went just wide of the post. At the other end, Rezek had a great opportunity, but failed to find the open Ústí goal from distance.

The turning point came seven minutes before half-time. Home defender Plachý completely botched a simple back-pass to his own goalkeeper, inadvertently sending Idunmbu through on goal. Idunmbu skilfully dribbled past the onrushing Pastornický and opened the scoring with ease – 0–1.

Right at the start of the second half, Ústí’s goalkeeper Pastornický saved his team at the other end by denying Moulis a certain goal. This moment seemed to set the tone for the rest of the match – the home side tried in vain to build up more pressure, whilst Viagem skilfully controlled their narrow lead. Táborsko’s final push was rather frantic; a dangerous header from Matějka went over the bar, and so it was the Ústí players who took home the three points.

After the match, Viagem’s manager David Oulehla praised the team’s collective performance and the key players of the match: “We’re all delighted with the win; we put in a superb team performance. Holý was excellent in goal, and Peterka marshalled the side brilliantly.”

Commenting on the match itself and how it unfolded, he added: “In my view, we were up against the best team in the league this autumn; they’re a side of great quality. We were prepared for the fact that a single mistake or a set-piece could decide the match. That’s more or less what happened. There were plenty of hard-fought challenges; everyone gave it their all. The bench was buzzing with emotion. That’s how it should be! These are three very important points for us. We’re at the top; let’s cherish that, let’s cherish every victory. It’s an extremely demanding competition. And it’s set to get even tougher,” said the manager in the dressing room in front of the assembled squad.

In the next round, Ústí face a home match for top spot in the table. On Friday at 6 pm, they will host Slavia Prague’s reserve side, who drew 3–3 with Opava in a televised match on Sunday.

• FC Silon Táborsko – FK VIAGEM Ústí nad Labem 0–1 (0–1)
• Goal: 38’ Idunmba
• Yellow cards: 3:1 (J. Rezek, Kateřiňák, Zeronik – Ulman)
• Referee: Berka – Vlček, Pečenka
• Attendance: 938
• Táborsko: Pastornický – Plachý (79. Polyák), Havel, Holiš, Heppner – Bláha (73. Zeronik), Kateřiňák – Varačka (73. Barac), J. Rezek (73. Miška), Šplíchal (55. Hruška) – Matějka. Manager: Brožek.
• Ústí: Holý – Březina, Peterka, Yaméogo – Ullman (85. Goj), Kott, D. Richter, Idumbo – Moulis (72. Bzura) – D. Černý (63. A. Fantiš), Do Marcolino. Manager Oulehla.