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Jan Holenda's two first-half goals - and the latest of winners from Bony Wilfred - helped Sparta Prague move to within a point of the top of Europa League Group K, on the back of a victory 3-2 victory over CFR Cluj.
Holenda had Sparta in charge early on - and they retained the advantage over opponents who finished the match with nine men, despite Lacina Traore's initial reply and a second equaliser from Sebastian Dubarbier.
With previous group leaders PSV Eindhoven only drawing at FC Copenhagen, Sparta's reward for their endeavours was significant.
Cluj midfielder Sixto Peralta began the evening in optimistic mood, taking aim from almost 40 yards in the fourth minute with a right-footed shot comfortably caught by Jaromir Blazek.
But home hopes took a dive only two minutes later when Holenda finished with the minimum fuss, left-footed from the edge of the area, for 1-0.
By the 13th minute, it was 2-0 to Sparta - Holenda doing the necessary again, this time from only six yards, after Ondrej Kusnir had played him in from the right wing.
Cluj tried to respond, and striker Traore got them back into the match in the 25th minute - with a left-footed shot past Blazek from just inside the area.
A rash of bookings followed as Cluj's Ricardo Cadu and Gabriel Muresan and Sparta's Juraj Kucka lost their cool.
Claro had to be at his best to dive and catch a terrific 25-yard shot from Wilfred eight minutes before the break - and although the goalkeeper was less assured with Kucka's free-kick, he did enough to limit the lead up to half-time.
Defender Muresan's 64th-minute dismissal for a second booking, after fouling Holenda, gave Sparta handy breathing space.
Cluj needed another important contribution from Claro - tipping Martin Zeman's left-foot shot round the post 10 minutes from time.
Then in the 88th minute substitute Bogdan Mara became the second home player to pick up a second yellow card, and it seemed Cluj were doing well to lose by only the odd goal.
Yet in a frantic finish, first another substitute - Dubarbier - popped up with the unlikeliest of equalisers in the last minute.
Then - after Zeman's right-foot shot hit the post - Sparta did grab the points after all as Wilfred struck from close range in the sixth minute of additional time. |
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