CZEAUTSVKPOL #6: SK Líšeň

Having already visited Brno’s highest placed club in Zbrojovka, as well as Start Brno of the fourth tier, this weekend would allow for two more ticks within the city in the form of Tatran Bohunice (4^th tier) and SK Líšeň (2^nd tier). Given that these blogs focus on primarily the second tier and up, our focus today is on the latter, who've started the season like a house on fire.

 

Having taken in a relatively entertaining 1-1 between Tatran Bohunice and Tatran Ždírec nad Doubravou, we took the tram to Nové Sady and grabbed some lunch at Bogota Restaurace. It was basically a chicken Kyiv with a little bit of ham and cheese. The coating didn’t want to stay on, and the chicken was pretty dry, but it filled a hole at the very least.

 

Before taking the tram to Líšeň, we went for a couple more beers at the Oktoberfest in the main square – the honey ale and banana beer certainly hit the spot. Come around half two, we made our way to the end of the line on the 8 tram.

 

Before the game

Based in the east side of the city, SK Líšeň play at the charming and aptly named Stadion SK Líšeň, currently sitting top of the pile in the Czech National Football League, despite losing their first game last weekend (a 1-0 loss at Táborsko). A 2-0 defeat at 3.Liga side Hlučín suggests that Líšeň may have peaked too soon, but a win at home to 8^th placed Karviná would put them back on the right track.

 

Given the considerably pricier nature of Vienna, it was nice to be back within the city limits of Brno for this weekend’s game. Not only was the beer cheaper, but it was also nicer (sorry to any Austrians or Austrian beer lovers). As well as that, the ground feels almost rural in location when inside, despite existing in a relatively populous part of the city.

 

As for a prediction; I’ll go for a resounding 3-0 home win.

 

After the Game

Líšeň remained top after the game, but only because the teams below them were in action on the Friday. The balance of play suggested Líšeň should have won comfortably with better finishing, but sometimes that balance isn’t reflected in the scoreline. A shock 1-2 success for Karviná put them firmly back in the mix of teams vying to spend next season in the top flight.

 

Baník Ostrava loanee Lukáš Budínský opened the scoring against the run of play for the away side on the stroke of half-time. Nigerian youngster Rafiu Durosinmi doubled that lead on 68 minutes, but the hosts hit back pretty swiftly from an excellent set-piece via towering Slovak centre-half Adam Lazcko.

 

The only positive for Líšeň would be that late goal given their brief goalless drought, but losing at home will undoubtedly be a worry. The FNL is already shaping up to be absolutely anybody’s to win. The muted reaction of the fans at the FT whistle suggested they hadn't played all that badly, rather lacked that finishing touch.

Who are ya?

My thanks go to the club for providing an excellent history at https://www-sklisen-com.translate.goog/zobraz.asp?t=historie-klubu&_x_tr_sl=cs&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc)  

Nicknamed Marvani after the Hantec (Brno dialect) expression for Líšeň residents, the first murmurings of football in the area date back to 1911. The club itself were formed in 1924 as The Czechoslovak Socialist Líšeň Sports Club (SK CSS Líšeň). The club began life playing locally, even finishing 1^st in their district in 1928.

 

Despite promotion to the 1^st A Class in 1936, the period before WWII proved troublesome, with the loss of the rise of Fascism and the occupation proving to have a sizeable impact on the club. Out of this difficult period, however, emerged ZKL Líšeň in 1948, as the club merged with a local ball bearing factory.

 

Another three years would see another name change – this time to Spartak ZPS Líšeň. 1958 saw the club drop the ZPS, before finally settling on their current moniker in 1990.

 

The club has been regional until its recent rise from the MSFL (Moravian-Silesian Football League) in 2019 to the FNL it currently finds itself leading. It was a huge achievement for a club in its 95^th year at the time. As they get ever closer to that Centenary, we might see Líšeň mark it in the top tier with their city rivals Zbrojovka.

 

NEXT WEEK: MFK Vyškov