Nigerian forward Victor Olatunji found the net for the third time this season in Sparta Prague’s 3-2 home loss to SK Sigma Olomouc on Friday night.
Despite his efforts, the Maroons saw their unbeaten run in the Czech top flight come to an end at the epet ARENA in a Matchday 9 clash.
Sparta Praha had won seven of their previous eight matches and were hoping to extend their lead at the top of the Czech league. However, after Olatunji’s early opener, things quickly unraveled.
The team could have moved up to 25 points but now sit in second place with eternal rivals Slavia Prague leading on goal difference and holding a game in hand.
Victor Olatunji’s performance in numbers
Olatunji opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a well-placed header from Kaan Kairinen’s corner, giving Sparta an early advantage. But Sigma Olomouc fought back, with goals from Yunusa Muritala, Jan Fiala, and Filip Zorvan turning the game on its head.
Though Sparta managed a late goal in stoppage time through Ermal Krasniqi, it wasn’t enough to salvage a result.
Olatunji’s individual stats for the match were mixed despite his goal. In his 71 minutes, he registered one goal, but also struggled with possession, losing the ball 11 times.
He made five accurate passes out of eight (63%) and won just one of his five ground duels.
Despite his early contribution, Sparta’s collapse highlighted the collective shortcomings of the team, making them lose their invisible status and dropping to second place.
