The Cup – the traditional ‘big’ final between the winers of the Czech and the Slovak Cups. Sparta (Pargue) vs Spartak (Trnava). Serious names, but times had changed – Spartak was a pale shadow of the mighty team they were once upon a time and only the terrible shape most Slovak clubs presently were helped them winning the Slovak Cup. Sparta went the opposite way – they were in big decline for the most years of Trnava’s great period, but came back with a vengeance in the 1980s and currently were the strongest Czechoslovakian team by far. Thus, Sparta was the absolute favourite – the final was good as played, it was a matter of Sparta trotting to the stadium to collect the trophy. And there were for a rude surprise – perhaps underestimating the opponent, taking victory for granted. Spartak fought with determination and dragged the final to penalty shoot-out at 1-1. And managed to score a winning goal in the shoot-out – 4-3. Surprise champion, surprise cup winner – the season of surprises was completed.
Sparta (Prague) was about to win a double this year, but won nothing. They were the best Czechoslovakian team by far, full of national team players, the top current stars of the game: Chovanec, Stejskal, Nemecek, Griga, Prochazka, Berger, Straka, Hasek. There was no other team with even half-the talent Sparta had. And very likely that was the reason for failure: taking for granted their superiority and underperforming as a result. It was bitter season, teaching bitter lesson.
May be incidental victory, but enjoyable nevertheless. Spartak (Trnava) failed from grace many years ago and there was no chance for restoring its leading position now. But they took their chance to win a trophy and if their opponents in Slovakia were particularly out of shape this season and Sparta did not took them seriously enough, it was not their fault. Prevailing over Sparta was particularly wonderful, for the difference was enormous: Sparta had the best of Czechoslovakian players and Spartak did not have even one half-measuring to Sparta’s stars. It was their 4th Cup and first trophy for almost 10 years – chancy or not, the victory was great.