AC Sparta Praha went to the top of UEFA Champions League Group H following their convincing 2-0 win over Spartak Moscow in the Letná stadium on Wednesday night.

Top of the pile
As a result of the 2-2 draw between FC Bayern München and Feyenoord in Rotterdam, Sparta, written off by all and sundry before this group got underway, have all but secured qualification for the second group stage and their victory over Russia’s champions was a deserved one, coming thanks to two second-half goals from Marek Kincl and Libor Sionko.

Unhappy Romantsev
Spartak, under the guidance of Russian national coach Oleg Romantsev, came to the Czech Republic capital in desperate need of a win and three points to lift them off the foot of the table, but rarely threatened during the 90 minutes and this despite containing one of Europe’s hottest strikers at present, Vladimir Beschastnykh.

No punch
Right from the kick-off it was Sparta that looked the most likely to score and it took a good save from Maxym Levitsky to deny Rastislav Michalík on eleven minutes. In fact, for the opening half an hour, the home team continued to bombard Levitsky’s goal, without actually forcing the goalkeeper into any notable saves and it was with some surprise that Spartak nearly took the lead after 27 minutes.

Bad miss
Beschastnykh collected a chipped ball into the box and turning on the touchline, picked out an unmarked Yegor Titov, who somehow managed to head the ball past the post with an empty goal at his mercy; Spartak did not have a better opening all night and that let off appeared to stimulate the Czech champions.

Impressive Hartig
Lukáš Hartig and Sionko, playing on the right wing, were beginning to take a hold of proceedings as the match moved into its second-half and it was the speedy winger who really should have given the home team the lead after 51 minutes, but he directed a free header from the penalty spot wide of the post.

First goal
To his relief, and the 21,000 spectators’, it was only a matter of moments before Kincl broke the deadlock. A dangerous cross from the left by Michalík was met at the back post by the tall striker and after Levitsky had produced a fantastic point blank save to deny him, he reacted before anyone else to stab the ball home under the prone keeper.

Crucial save
For the remaining 30 minutes of the game, Spartak attempted to score an equaliser, but found it hard to break through a very physical Sparta back four. Their best chance fell to substitute German Lovchev, who, when put through on goal with seven minutes remaining, could only manage to shoot straight at the legs of the advancing Petr Cech.

Game over
With two minutes remaining, a dreadful defensive mix up allowed Sionko through on goal and unlike Lovchev, he kept his composure and slotted the ball past Levitsky to send the home crowd into raptures and Sparta top.