Košterna: "Rakow was playable, it's a shame"

After losing the first match by two goals, moreover, on their home field, the Trnava team traveled to Czestochowa for a rematch with only one possible scenario. To score a goal earlier than the opponent, which would force a psychological advantage, which they wanted to convert immediately to erase the deficit. The plan was promising, but the opponent also had something to say. The home team had the first tutu, but Tudor threw it away. Then came the moment of the North Macedonian striker Ristovski, who was alone in a shooting position in front of the young home goalkeeper. However, he fired in such a way that he hit it in the middle of the goal, as if the home goalkeeper showed his skill. So everything could have gone according to plan, but it didn't. New players also arrived in the second half, and it was Ristovski again who, after Daniel's pass, found himself alone in front of the goal and all he had to do was hit it. Maybe he wanted to tear the net with a shot, he should have placed the ball instead. The fact that a penalty came in the form of a goal in Takač's net is only a logical outcome of the ending in both matches.

"If we had scored a goal here in the 30th minute, I believe that the whole double match would change and we would suddenly have an advantage. The home team would be under pressure, even considering that they lost the last match against Górnik, they would lose now, so we would have more goal opportunities. On the other hand, if you play with Rakow, who is qualitatively better than you and is a very good defensive team, you don't expect many chances. However, we expected that we would not lose 0:2 at home. If it was 0:0 at home, for example, the match here would be much more difficult for the home team. Even they can't say that it was easy, because we had two chances at 0:0. However, that is in the past and I congratulate the home team on their well-deserved promotion." said coach Michal Gašparík after the meeting, who admitted that his players had lost progress in the first match. Therefore, they could not cross their shadow and knock out the seeded opponent.

"This is reality. If the Slovak team is the favorite in the 2nd preliminary round, it usually advances. There is not much hesitation, which we can appreciate. When it comes to the 3rd preliminary round, there is usually a better opponent, with a higher budget, better facilities and better players. We won't do anything about it. Compared to Rakow, we are a smaller club in terms of budget and finances, so that must be reflected somewhere. Everyone saw that in the double match on the field. If it was the crown and it was played for one match, you can, but in a double match, the quality will usually show. She showed herself in this as well, even though it was more or less even, but the quality was visible, Rakow had it higher in almost every position. Then she was also seen in those decisive moments," added Gašparík.

The players agreed after the game that the bold plan was not that far off. It all broke in key moments in which the home team was either happier or more successful. “We had a plan to not concede as long as possible to make it playable and we knew that some chance would come. We had two strikers, we wanted to play a pressing game. Rista's chance came, which we could and should have used, and the match would certainly have looked different. Rakow would not be so confident. Although we didn't use that chance, we went into the second half at 0:0 and Rista had another great chance, it's a shame he didn't convert it and that's the difference. If we don't take advantage of such chances, in Europe we don't have eight like in our league, but two or three, and we have to score a goal from that. In my opinion, those were big enough chances for us to score that goal," said captain Martin Mikovič, who was sorry that his team was not doing well in conversion and it was not only in this match.

Kristián Koštrna, who replaced Mikovič at halftime and was supposed to bring fresh wind to the offensive, was also disappointed. "I think that Rakow was playable. It was emphasized to us what style they play in the domestic league, how dominant they are. We saw a lot of things, a lot of videos, where they were able to push a lot of teams in the Polish league, like Lech Poznan, or other quality teams. In this double match, we showed that we can also push them into their half, in front of the penalty area, and we were able to create chances. I evaluate it positively and it's a shame that we didn't advance. It would be wonderful to play a Slovak-Czech derby with Slavia."

Former teammates from Ružomberok, who are currently playing in the Polish Ekstraklasa – Kostadinov and Takáč – were keeping their fingers crossed for Matej Čurm in the audience. Together with them, more than two hundred supporters of Spartak in the visiting cauldron, who could be heard, but were not allowed the joy of a goal.

"Although the capacity was not the same as in other stadiums, the fans created a good atmosphere and it helped the match. I'm glad that ours also came and hats off to them. They were heard and helped us," said Čurma, who is moving with his teammates to the east of the country on Friday, where they will be waiting for them in the league match against Michalovce on Sunday. Hopefully, the red-blacks will improve their taste and return to the winning streak.