Second-Highest Scoring Match in Czech League History: Teplice and Plzeň Draw 5:5

In a Round 3 match of the Czech football league, Teplice and Plzeň played out a thrilling 5:5 draw — the second highest-scoring match in the history of the independent Czech championship since the split of Czechoslovakia. The game drew a crowd of 8,261 spectators.

Only twice has the Czech league seen more goals in a single match: in October 1995, Sláva thrashed Slavia Uherské Hradiště 9:1 (notably, current Plzeň coach Martin Hyský played centre-back for the losing side that day), and in October 2013, Jablonec and Znojmo also finished 5:5.

Plzeň Led Three Times — and Lost the Lead Three Times

The match got off to a blistering start: by the 10th minute, Plzeň were 3:0 up thanks to goals from Patrik Hrošovský, Christopher Kabongo and Sampson Dweh. But Teplice hit back through Lukáš Mareček and Matěj Radosta, before away captain Matěj Vydra restored the two-goal cushion. A goal from Marcel Čermák made it 3:4 at the break — matching the record for most goals in a first half in the history of the independent Czech league.

After the interval, home coach Zdenko Frťala made two defensive changes, bringing on Josef Švanda and Dalibor Večerka. In the 54th minute, Teplice drew level as John Auta headed home a precise cross from Radosta, who was involved in the action all game (1 goal, 2 assists). Soon after, Jan Fortelný fired the hosts in front with a fine strike from distance, making it 5:4.

A Red-Card Finale

With his position at the club already under pressure, the Plzeň coach brought on Denis Višinský and Prince Adu while his side were trailing. Just ten minutes later, Višinský levelled the score with a spectacular finish — 5:5. Moments earlier, he had also set up Hrošovský for a header, only for goalkeeper Matouš Trmal to deny him.

Plzeň pushed hard for a winner — the club is still searching for its first victory of the season. Five minutes from time, Teplice also had a chance to snatch it, but Švanda's effort flew over the bar. The match ended in controversy: in the 88th minute, substitute David Krčík, sent on to shore up the defence, struck Tomáš Zlatohlávek and was shown a straight red card, leaving his side to see out the match with ten men. A scuffle nearly broke out on the pitch afterwards, which referee Jan Machálek had to step in to break up.

In the end, neither side managed to find a winner. Plzeň still haven't won a match despite scoring five away from home, while Teplice, for all their comeback heroics, also failed to claim maximum points. The result temporarily sends Teplice to the top of the table — at least until Sunday's fixtures involving Jablonec and Slavia, after which the lead will most likely change hands.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by sport.cz