The fans contribute much to the energy of local football games. Every point will count as FC Zborjovka hosts Znojmo Sunday and third-place FC Hradec Králové on May 7. Photo credit: FC Zbrojovka.
Brno, Apr. 24 (BD) — Lokomotiva loses late at Slovácko; Žabiny Brno down to final chance in ŽBL Finals, KP Brno settles for fourth; Draci lose a tight game; High-powered Sígrs offense scores twice to win late; Brno Cricket starts Czech T20 Summer League in Prague; and the Brno sports results and schedule.
MEN’S FOOTBALL
Zbrojovka Loses Big Opportunity, Needs to beat Znojmo Sunday
FC Zbrojovka briefly moved into the all-important third spot in the Fortuna:Narodni Liga standings when it beat Pardubice, 3-1, at home on Wednesday. But, with a perfect opportunity to solidify their right to a chance at promotion to the Fortuna:Liga, Brno lost at Varnsdorf, 2-0, on Sunday.
Zbrojovka is 11-6-7 with 39 points and in fifth place, three points behind third-place FC Hradec Králové (12-6-6, 42) and two points behind fourth-place FK Varnsdorf (11-8-5, 41 points). Third place would offer a chance to advance; fourth place means a second year in the second league.
This Sunday, Zbrojovka hosts its southern neighbor, Znojmo, for a 6 p.m. start. There are only six games left in the season.
The following home game will be a big one: FC Hradec Králové comes to Brno on May 7 for a Tuesday game that will be shown on ČT Sport television. Kick off is at 5 p.m.
The final home game is currently scheduled for May 19 against Třinec.
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
Lokomotiva Lose in Final Moments at Slovácko
After a second-half onslaught of goals against FC Hradec Králové put FC Lokomotiva-Horni Herspice solidly into seventh place in the top women’s football league of the Czech Republic, the team from south Brno could not break into the top 4 when they lost, 2-1, at 1. FC Slovácko last Friday.
The Moravian Derby — which drew the league’s best attendance of 723 — was exciting through to the end because Horni Herspice had beaten Slovacko with a dramatic come-from-behind effort to advance in the Czech Women’s Football Cup in February.
This time, Nikol Mazúchová put Lokomotiva on the board in the 14th minute, but Slovácko scored at 30 minutes and 90 minutes. A late spurt of Horni Herspice offense was not enough.
Lokomotiva, which beat FC Hradec Králové, 5-1, behind four goals by Desana Dianišková on April 13, was just a win from fourth place when they traveled to Uherske Hradiste for the Friday evening game in the town’s main stadium. They finished the 14-round regular season with a record of 3-3-8 with 12 points. Slovácko (5-1-7, 16) moved up to fourth place.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Žabiny Brno Have Backs Against the Wall in Finals
The Žabiny Brno women’s basketball team made it to the Finals of the ŽBL and ran into the brick wall that is undefeated and multiple-time-defending-champion ZVVZ USK Praha.
Praha won Game 1, 108-51, on Wednesday and Game 2, 70-93, on Saturday, to take a 2 games to 0 lead in the best-of-five-games series.
Game 3 is today (Wednesday) in Prague. If necessary, Game 4 would be in Brno on Saturday and Game 5 would be in Prague on May 1.
The Žabiny are back in the Finals for the first time since 2013-14.
KP Brno Settles for Fourth Place
KP Brno, the runner up last season behind Praha, dropped two notches to fourth place in the 2019 ŽBL postseason. Sokol Nilfisk H. Králové won the best-of-five-games series, 3 games to 1.
Hradec Králové finished the series in Game 4 at home, 70-60, on Friday.
BASEBALL
Draci Lose on Wild Pitch, Maintain Early Standings Lead
Given the dominance that the Brno Draci have shown the Czech extraliga over the past two decades, it is not surprising when they win. It is, however, newsworthy when they lose — even when it is an early season game that probably doesn’t mean a whole lot in the long run (and was quickly forgotten with victories in the following two games.)
Nevertheless, on Friday, the Draci gave up a run on a wild pitch in the top of the eighth inning and failed to capitalize on 10 hits as they lost at home, 0-1, to Eagles Praha. It was an unfortunate turn, given that they had just temporarily wiggled out of a bases-loaded-with-no-outs jam with a double play that started at home plate.
After a month of play, the Draci are atop the league standings with an 11-1 record. Arrows Ostrava are a game back at 10-2. Eagles Praha are at 5-7.
Cardion Hroši Brno dropped three games to Ostrava last weekend to fall to 6-6. Technika logged its second win of the season — 8-4 at Třebíč Nuclears on Friday — but they are last in the league with a 2-10 record.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL
Geisler-to-Baykalov Combination Leads to Sígrs Late Win
The Brno Sígrs squandered a lead late in their first game of the year, but they got some redemption when they caught the Pardubice Stallions on Easter Sunday with two touchdowns within the final minute to win 48-47.
Both TDs were Wesley Geisler passes to Ivan Baykalov: a 14-yard pass with 38 seconds left and a 17-yard pass with no time on the clock. Importantly, Jiří Hrůza converted both extra points.
The Sígrs, who allowed the visiting Vysočina Gladiators 22 unanswered points in a 49-50 loss on April 14, are 1-1 with 97 points scored and 97 points allowed. They are nothing if not exciting.
They travel to play the Prague Lions on Sunday at 2 p.m. The Lions, who are 3-0, have scored 97 points through three games.
The other Brno team, the Alligators, continue to pursue their first win of the season. They lost to the visiting Lions, 28-42, on Saturday and dropped to 0-3, the only team in the eight-team league without a win. The Alligators play at the Vysočina Gladiators (2-0) on Saturday.
CRICKET
Czech T20 Summer League Starts Saturday
The Czech Cricket League begins this Saturday when the Brno Cricket Club travels to the Czech capital to play defending-champion Prague CC.
The Opening Round game of the Czech T20 summer league begins at Chateau Field, Vinor, at 3 p.m.
Brno was the runner-up in 2018. The opening match is expected to attract executives of the International Cricket Council and the Indian Ambassador to the Czech Republic.
The first home game will bring Vinohrady Cricket Club to Brno on May 11.
Click here for more information.
BRNO SPORTS RESULTS
Quick results for various Brno professional and recreational sports for the past week. Home team listed first (when applicable).
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
— Men’s Football: Zbrojovka Brno 3, Pardubice 1
— Women’s Basketball (Finals, Game 1): ZVVZ USK Praha 108, Žabiny Brno 51
Friday, April 19, 2019
— Baseball: Třebíč Nuclears 4, Technika Brno 8
— Women’s Basketball (Game 4): Sokol Nilfisk H. Králové 70, KP Brno 60
— Baseball: Draci Brno 0, Eagles Praha 1
— Baseball: Arrows Ostrava 5, Cardion Hroši Brno 2
— Women’s Football: 1. FC Slovácko 2, Lokomotiva Brno H. H. 1
Saturday, April 20, 2019
— American Football: Brno Alligators 28, Prague Lions 42
— Rugby: RC Zlín 5, RC Dragon Brno 85
— Women’s Basketball (Finals, Game 2): Žabiny Brno 70, ZVVZ USK Praha 93
— Baseball: Draci Brno 6, Eagles Praha 1
— Baseball: Arrows Ostrava 13, Cardion Hroši Brno 5
— Baseball: Technika Brno 2, Třebíč Nuclears 16
Sunday, April 21, 2019
— American Football: Brno Sígrs 48, Pardubice Stallions 47
— Men’s Football: Varnsdorf 2, Zbrojovka Brno 0
— Baseball: Eagles Praha 6, Draci Brno 15
— Baseball: Cardion Hroši Brno 0, Arrows Ostrava 14
— Baseball: Technika Brno 3, Třebíč Nuclears 10
BRNO SPORTS SCHEDULE
The schedule for various Brno professional and recreational sports for the next week. All dates and times subject to change. Home team listed first (when applicable).
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
— Women’s Basketball (Finals, Game 3): ZVVZ USK Praha X Žabiny Brno, 5 p.m.
Friday, April 26, 2019
— Baseball: Třebíč Nuclears X Cardion Hroši Brno, 5 p.m.
— Baseball: Draci Brno X Skokani Olomouc, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 27, 2019
— American Football: Vysočina Gladiators X Brno Alligators, TBD
— Women’s Basketball (Finals, Game 4, if necessary): Žabiny Brno X ZVVZ USK Praha, TBD
— Baseball (Game 1): Tempo Praha X Technika Brno, 1 p.m.
— Baseball: Skokani Olomouc X Draci Brno, 2 p.m.
— Baseball: Cardion Hroši Brno Třebíč Nuclears, 2 p.m.
— Cricket: Prague CC X Brno CC, 3 p.m.
— Baseball (Game 2): Tempo Praha X Technika Brno, 4 p.m.
Sunday, April 28, 2019
— Men’s Football: Zbrojovka Brno X Znojmo, 6 p.m.
— American Football: Prague Lions X Brno Sígrs, 2 p.m.
— Baseball: Skokani Olomouc X Draci Brno, 2 p.m.
— Baseball: Cardion Hroši Brno X Třebíč Nuclears, 2 p.m.
— Baseball: Technika Brno X Tempo Praha, 2 p.m.
The Brno Sports Report is published every Wednesday. All dates and times are subject to change. Most of the stories are about the traditional “English-speaking” team sports — football, hockey, baseball, basketball, American football, cricket, rugby, etc. — but it is also about the interesting local spectator and participation sports — tennis, badminton, running, horse racing, swimming, rock climbing, biking, etc. If you have any suggestions for what should be included, please comment below or send an email to brnosports@gmail.com.
