SPARTA PRAGUE striker Vratis Lav Lokvenc grabbed an injury time goal to break the hearts of Northern Irish part timers Glentoran at The Oval in Belfast last night.
The home side had put up a magnificent performance in front of 2,200 fans in this European
Cup preliminary round first leg tie.
And they appeared to have secured a deserved draw against the crack Czech Republic visitors until Lovenc headed home Zdenek Svoboda's deep right wing cross.
Glentoran's defence, highly disciplined and brilliantly marshalled by John Devine and Chris Walker looked well in control until that late blow.
Horst Siegl gave Sparta a 49th minute lead with a far post header from Peter Gabrel's left wind cross.
But the battling home side drew level four minutes later when 6ft 3ins Glen Little reacted first to poke home the loose ball with Sparta's defence all at sea following a goal mouth scramble.
Glentoran looked on course for a draw until Lokvenc came up with the dramatic winner to provide his side with a cushion for the August 22 second leg.
