Guddal nets brace as Sparta Prague thrash Ararat-Armenia in Europa League opener

[p]Despite the history they were making, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ararat-yerevan/foGk6jmN/"]Ararat[/a]-Armenia did not seem overawed by the occasion early on and almost took the lead inside 30 seconds. [/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/serobyan-artur/xnpneMLL/"]Artur Serobyan[/a]’s delivery was waiting to be tapped in at the far post by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sandro-lima/nPTrzUXq/"]Sandro Lima[/a] but, with the goal at his mercy, the ball instead rolled under his foot and the chance went begging.[/p][p]The hosts were riding the wave of momentum in the early stages, going close to breaking the deadlock on two more occasions in the opening 10 minutes.[/p][p]First, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/grigoryan-edgar/xUbxCqvJ/"]Edgar Grigoryan[/a] fired straight at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/surovcik-jakub/fwXhJa0F/"]Jakub Surovcik[/a] from close range, before Lima headed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/oliveira-hugo/IsGS06DM/"]Hugo Oliveira[/a]’s delivery against the woodwork. [/p][p]There was always a possibility that Ararat would be left to rue their missed opportunities, and that proved to be the case when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sparta-prague/6qA358jH/"]Sparta[/a] hit them with a quick-fire double.[/p][p][b]The goals came from an unexpected source, as centre-back Tobias Guddal first flicked home [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/karabec-adam/SClyr2eG/"]Adam Karabec's [/a]corner before reacting quickest to a loose ball on the edge of the area to guide a sumptuous effort into the top corner.[/b][/p][embed guid="bf349d4e-cd4a-4eb0-9154-012bc9f3d4f2" url="https://x.com/EuropaLeague/status/2100293156931543224" social-type="twitter" /][p]In response, Araret rarely threatened to get back into the game besides defender Jose Junior Julio Bueno's solo attempt, as he bombed forward down the right and flashed a ferocious effort narrowly wide of the target. [/p][p]The destination of the third goal felt crucial in deciding who would prevail, and it ultimately went the way of the Czech side within 10 minutes of the restart.[/p][p][b]After driving towards the byline, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcocer-josimar/GtvcpX7m/"]Josimar Alcocer[/a] fizzed a ball across the face of goal for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/john-mercado/tSlWfuTh/"]John Mercado[/a] to tap home and put Sparta in total control.[/b][/p][image alt="Match stats" id="ec6f84ce-c763-49e7-9062-4424de6fbac7" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="6c00cf9a-3baf-419d-973a-9923a5177e60" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]Nevertheless, Ararat were not prepared to go down without a fight and reduced the arrears to two almost instantly, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wilson-bruno/Ec27trNj/"]Bruno Wilson[/a] headed home from six yards. [/p][p][b]However, any visiting fears of a comeback were extinguished 18 minutes from time, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jurasek-matej/0p9v7d9P/"]Matej Jurasek[/a]’s marauding run down the right culminated in him standing up a perfect delivery for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vydra-patrik/pId9BXTD/"]Patrik Vydra[/a] to head home. [/b][/p][p]From there, Sparta cruised to victory, ending a mini-run of two consecutive away defeats in European competition.[/p][p]In contrast, Ararat’s evening didn’t go to plan and, with all their home UEL games this term being played on neutral turf, their quest to secure an unlikely progression looks difficult.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guddal-tobias/YZaauoS5/"]Tobias Guddal[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sparta-prague/6qA358jH/"]Sparta Prague[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ararat-armenia-xlT9cL89/sparta-prague-6qA358jH/?mid=IwHgmdDd"]Check out the match stats here[/a].[/b][/p]