Football
2014/15 UEFA Europa League, 2014 First Round
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PA Sport 9y

Slovan Bratislava 0-3 Sparta Prague

Crowd trouble marred Sparta Prague's 3-0 Europa League victory over Slovan Bratislava on Thursday night.
The Group I encounter at the Stadion Pasienky was 42 minutes old when Swedish referee Martin Strombergsson was forced to suspend proceedings with the game goalless as violent exchanges took place in the stands.
The players eventually returned to the pitch some 40 minutes later and Sparta secured victory courtesy of second-half goals by David Lafata, Tiemoko Konate and Ladislav Krejci.
The match marked the first time that the two sides had met in a competitive fixture since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993.
The game begun in a somewhat timid fashion with neither side carving out too many clear-cut opportunities early on.
Lukas Vacha and Krejci had early shots blocked as Sparta went in search of the opening goal, while at the other end a Juraj Halenar free-kick failed to make it past the Sparta wall and test goalkeeper David Bicik.
Sparta left-back Costa Nhamoinesu then made his way into the Slovan penalty area after Jakub Brabec was fouled and headed Vacha's 21st-minute free-kick onto the crossbar.
Slovan, under the guidance of new manager Jozef Chovanec, were in the ascendancy as the first half drew to a close and Bicik was forced to divert Erik Grendel stinging 20-yard shot over the crossbar.
Play was then suspended as fans clashed in the stands, but order was eventually restored and the final three minutes of the first half were played without further incident.
The second half was 11 minutes old when Lafata opened the scoring for the Czech side.
The 33-year-old forward was picked out by Krejci inside the Slovan penalty area and coolly slotted home past Slovan keeper Dusan Pernis.
Midfielder Konate made the game safe five minutes later when he poked home from close range after Nhamoinesu had sent in a teasing cross from the left wing.
Chovanec responded by sending on the attackers Frantisek Kubik and Pavel Fort, but Sparta increased their lead when Krejci diverted Konate's cross into the net nine minutes from time.
Sparta are third in Group I, level with Young Boys and Napoli on six points from three games. Slovan sit bottom with no points from their three matches.
Both sides lock horns once again in the reverse fixture at the Generali Arena on November 6.
ends

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