FK Banik Most-Souš — FK Zlany (18-06-2022)

 

The first game of my three weeks in Europe during the extremely hot summer of 2022 takes me to Most, roughly in between Berlin and Prague, the two cities I have to be in. I meet up with my former student JW to see one of the few official games still to be played in Central Europe, albeit in the lower regions of Czech football. We meet up at Stadion Zdeňka Fibicha, which has one main stand, and a capacity of 2,500 people.

 

FK Banik Most-Souš is a small club from the city of Most in North Czechia, which plays in the  Divize B (Division B), the fourth tier of Czech football. It was founded in 1919, had many name changes along the way, and most recently (in 2020) merged with the successor to the defunct FK Banik Most, Mostecky FK, to be renamed FK Banik Most-Souš. The original FK Banik Most had been founded in 1909 and knew a relatively successful period in the 2000s, when it was owned by an Italian gas company. But, as so often, the success turned into disaster, and in 2016 the club was dissolved.

 

In the past years, FK Banik Most-Souš has largely replaced FK Bank Most, as the main team of the city, and many of the old clubs loyal supporters have migrated too. On this extremely hot Summer day, they celebrate winning the championship and promotion with their fans, by offering the first 500 glasses of beer for free.

 

We pay CZK 50 ($2) per ticket and join some 350-400 people, including about a dozen (East) German groundhoppers. Most of the fans are very local — the group of ultras (ca. 50) used to support FK Banik Most, and are celebrated by the players before kick-off.

 

In the first minutes it is clear that this is going to be a one-sided game, in which FK Banik Most-Souš wants to treat its supporters in its last game and Zlany doesn’t care (I don’t think there are any away supporters). Still, it is actually the visitors that score first. In the 9^th minute a beautiful shot from the penalty box comes back from the post, past the goalie, and is finished by a Zlany striker: 0-1.

 

The lead lasts two minutes. Then, a simple attack over left finds one of two free Banik strikers, who finishes easily in front of an open goal from 5 meters: 1-1. Time for the home fans to get their pyro going.

 

In the 18^th minute a Zlany defender shoots at a Banik attacker, the ball bounces to another striker who comes at the goalie, passes to another free attacker, who passes to yet another free striker, who shoots at goal and a defender uses his hand: red card and penalty. The penalty is easily scored (2-1) and the game is practically over.

 

In the 23^rd minute a Banik shot is stopped by a Zlany defender, goes high up in the air, and is volleyed low in the far corner from outside the box: 3-1. A few minutes later another Banik attack over left, low cross, headed out by a falling defender, and a free Banik player has all the time in the world to pick a far corner: 4-1.

 

At the half hour mark a high cross from the left finds a Banik striker, who stands in between two defenders who don’t move, and he easily puts it in the net from about 5 meter: 5-1. That is also the half time score.

 

Compared to the explosive first half, the second half is a bit pedestrian. In fact, Zlany has about as many half-chances as Banik in the first fifteen minutes. Then again, it is extremely hot (well in the 30s degrees Celsius) and soon the teams start to exchange many of their players.

 

In the 65^th minute a high cross from the right is volleyed into the goal from close range (the defender just ignored the ball): 6-1. In the next 3 minutes Banik hits the crossbar, and the rebound is headed over, as well as another volley from close by (same striker), but this time goalie saved.

 

In the 73^rd minute a long cross from the right is headed in from the far corner into the other corner of the goal: 7-1. That would also be the final score. Both teams seem fine with the score and it is simply too hot to do much more.

 

After the game, all the Banik players come to the main stand to celebrate the game and the championship with their fans. Although really small scale, the celebrations are pretty impressive, including the serious pyro of the ultras.

 

The afternoon ends with fireworks and undoubtedly a lot of more beer. All in all, an exceptionally nice game for such a low league. No doubt FK Banik Most-Souš will do well in the Third Division and will grow its local support further. Definitely a very good groundhop opportunity!