Slavia Prague 2-0 Cork City

Cork match reaction

Cork City slipped to defeat in their Uefa Cup first round, first leg match against Slavia Prague.

Tomas Hrdlicka had hit the post for Slavia before putting his side ahead with a curling free-kick from 25 yards.

Karel Pitak added a second, heading the ball into the bottom corner from Matej Krajcik's cross.

Cork were under pressure throughout but still got forward themselves - George O'Callaghan going closest to replying when his free-kick hit the woodwork.

The Eircom leaders also went close in the first half when O'Callaghan twice forced fine saves from Slavia keeper Matus Kozacik.

But for the most part the visitors were on the back foot - with only sloppy finishing and Cork keeper Michael Devine stopping Slavia from running riot.

Pitak and Dusan Svento missed the target when well placed early on, and after Hrdlicka hit the post, Devine did well to deny him and Pitak before the break.

However Devine could do nothing about Slavia's goals in the second-half.

And Cork will have plenty to do in the second leg at Turner's Cross on 29 September if they are to reach the competition's group stage.

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Slavia Prague: Kozacik, Zabojink, Latka, Hubacek, Krajcik, Suchy, Jarolim (Fort 69), Hrdlicka, Svento, Pesir (Kratochvil 79), Pitak.
Subs Not Used: Seliga, Studik, Janda, Zboncak, Gecov.

Booked: Suchy, Svento.

Goals: Hrdlicka 61, Pitak 79.

Cork: Devine, Daniel Murphy, Dan Murray, Bennett, Horgan, Kearney, O'Donovan, O'Callaghan, Gamble, John O'Flynn, Fenn (O'Halloran 73).
Subs Not Used: McNulty, Coughlan, O'Brien, Woods, Lordan, Bruton.

Booked: Kearney, O'Callaghan.

Att: 4,694

Ref: Zeljko Siric (Croatia).