Victor Olatunji stepped off the bench to become the hero for Sparta Prague, netting the decisive goal in their 2-1 comeback win over Jablonec in the Czech First League on Sunday at Stadion Letná.
Olatunji’s match-winning strike highlighted an electrifying cameo performance, keeping Sparta’s title chase alive as they continue to pursue league leaders and fierce rivals, Slavia Prague.
The game didn’t begin as planned for Sparta, with Jablonec taking the lead in the 34th minute.
Vakhtang Tchanturishvili unleashed a stunning strike from outside the box, leaving Sparta trailing at halftime.
Sparta clawed their way back into the contest early in the second half with Albion Rrahmani leveled the score in the 51st minute, finishing expertly after a well-delivered corner from Qazim Laçi.
Olatunji replaced Rrahmani in the 63rd minute, and it didn’t take long for him to stamp his authority on the match.
Just 15 minutes later, Olatunji struck the winner, securing all three points for his team.
Impactful Cameo
In his 27-minute appearance, Olatunji made every moment count.
From his nine touches, he delivered one goal with his only shot on target, completed one successful dribble, and recorded a passing accuracy of 50% (3/6).
The striker’s physicality also made an impression, winning one of two ground duels and one of two aerial contests.
Olatunji’s goal against Jablonec marked his 10th of the season across all competitions – six in the league and four in the UEFA Champions League.
The Bigger Picture
Despite the victory, Sparta Prague remains third on the league table with 37 points from 19 matches. They trail Slavia Prague, who sit comfortably at the summit, by 13 points.
With Olatunji in fine form, Sparta will be hoping for more super-sub heroics to close the gap on their rivals and keep their title hopes alive.
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