A HIGH SCORING GAME
SPARTA—HAMBURGER, 7:4 (3:2)

Hajný(2), Dvořáček(2), Hojer, Schaffer, own goal - Harder(3), Schneider — Rush vs. combination — Hamburger S.V. not up to the fame — Sparta's brilliant game.

On 12/11/1922, Sunday, a match was scheduled in Letná, between A.C. Sparta, a team then considered the main squadra in Czechoslovakia, and Hamburger S.V., of centre-forward Otto Harder, a finalist team in Deutsche Meisterschaft 1922. This meeting was seen with too much enthusiasm, as the North Germans were elevated to the level of other German powers, such as Fürth and, especially, 1.FC Nürnberg, who had played both championship finals against Hamburger S.V.

There were some doubts for this match. Antonín Hojer, clearly ill, was not in a position to perform at full fitness. Antonín Perner was unable to play, but was selected as right half-back. The Prague team, however, had left winger František Císař, who was loaned by A.F.K. Union Žižkov. Hamburger S.V., in turn, would send a team without the veteran full-back Rudolf Agte and centre-half Asbjørn Halvorsen.

Referee Bohumil Zeníšek from Plzeň was appointed to take charge of the match.

The public gave the guests a friendly welcome; the German flag and the footballers were alongside the Czechoslovakian flag. They held a bouquet of flowers and a warm speech before the meeting began.


Friendly match: 12/11/1922, Sunday, 15:00.
A.C. Sparta — Hamburger S.V. 7:4 (3:2)
Place: Letná, Prague.
Referee: Bohumil Zeníšek (Plzeň).
Linesmen: ?
Estimated attendance: 12.000.

A.C. Sparta: Peyr — Hojer, Pospíšil — Perner(Šroubek), Káďa(c), Červený — Sedláček, Hajný, Schaffer, Dvořáček, Císař. 
Coach: John Dick.

Hamburger S.V.: Martens – Beier, Carlsson – Flohr, Speyer, Krohn – Kolzen, Breuel, Harder, Schneider(c), Rave.
Coach: A. W. Turner.

Goals: Hojer(18min[penalty]), Hajný(25min, 54min), Dvořáček(31min, 86min) Schaffer(48min) and Martens(52min[own goal]) — Schneider(35min[penalty]) and Harder(37min, 46min, 80min).


On the muddy and slippery terrain, the match between the best team from Prague and the North Germans, the Deutsche Meisterschaft 1922 finalists began.

In the first thirty minutes, there was complete dominance by the home team. A disaster appeared to be imminent for Hamburger S.V., due to the way the German team was behaving in the face of the sovereignty of A.C. Sparta. Hojer opened the scoring, through a penalty kick. A few minutes later, Ferdinand Hajný scored a beautiful goal. 2:0. After a combination between Sedláček and Hajný, Jan Dvořáček scored the third goal. 3:0.

It seemed that the guests would leave with a disastrous defeat. A.C. Sparta's forward line was in top form, with their combinations and precise actions against an opposing defensive system that could do little.

However, a completely unnecessary penalty by Miroslav Pospíšil gave encouragement to the visiting team. Captain Schneider scored the first goal for Hamburger S.V. Consequently, another goal was scored.

Šroubek         Káďa         Červený

A few minutes before the end of the first half, Josef Šroubek, who was accustomed to play as inside forward, replaced Perner, who was unable to play. Červený started to play as right half-back.

The first half ended 3:2 for the home team.

The second half of the match started with full force. Shortly after the restart, Harder leveled the match for Hamburger S.V. At that time, the damage caused in the first stage had been stopped by the German centre-forward. Many spectators believed in a real battle after the visiting draw. However, in an action involving Dvořáček and Schaffer, the exceptional Hungarian centre-forward put Prague's red team back in front of the scoreboard. A few minutes later, the North Germans scored an own goal and Hajný added another one to the score. Four goals scored in ten minutes of second half.


MATCH REPORT: Both full-backs and the goalkeeper did what they could under the given circumstances, they were also completely exhausted by the end of the match.


The fatigue of the German defensive system was noticeable, especially with both full-backs too worn out. A.C. Sparta was constantly in Hamburger S.V.'s defence, with opposing players spending a long time without even touching the ball. The guests made only isolated attacks. With one of them, it was Harder again, whose sharp blow to the bar meant the fourth and final goal of the guests. Later, when many thought the match would end 6:4, a Dvořáček-Schaffer combination resulted in another goal from Prague's left inside forward.



From the beginning of the match, the incredible difference in styles used by each team was noticeable. On the one hand, the style of A.C. Sparta, which reflected its ground-game, scientific, combinatorial style. On the other hand, the North Germans presented a much simpler and more transparent style: the passing was usually perpendicular to the front, calculated for a lunge game, during which an individual player made his way to the goal without the help of his teammates.

Both defensive systems were precarious, due to mistakes made or players completely unable to perform in the match — Hojer, for instance. The mistakes, especially committed by A.C. Sparta, were the basic point for the match to end with a high number of goals scored.

A rematch was scheduled for 19/11/1922, Sunday, in Germany.

A.C. SPARTA

Compared to A.C. Sparta's attacks, the North Germans had almost no offensive moments, especially in the second half of the match. However, of the few offensive actions, Hamburger S.V. managed to score four goals, largely due to defensive mistakes, grotesque and unnecessary errors on the part of the full-backs. František Peyr did not have much to do, he could do nothing against the goals conceded. Hojer and Pospíšil had a share in the success of the guests. Pospíšil's superfluous hand opened the guests' ranks of success.


MATCH REPORT: The defence had a handicap in Hojer, who, although ill, started. Pospíšil rushed carelessly for that penalty kick that depressed Peyr in the goal


Červený and Káďa stood out in the half-back line, especially the Sparta captain. Both were at the peak of their knowledge. The best was the captain, but Červený surprised with a sacrificial and fast game. Perner, who had been rescheduled, was currently unable to play and had to be replaced by Šroubek.

The attack worked excellently, through its inside combinations and connections on the sides between inside forwards and outside forwards, especially in the second half. The axis of all this was the Hungarian Schaffer who, although he was still very slow, shone in the center of A.C. Sparta's attack and orchestrated the plays for his vanguard very well. Hajný was an excellent partner for Schaffer, he played with full success and had very beautiful moments. The right inside forward played  very selflessly. Dvořáček was not playing in his best condition.

The two outside forwards played very contrasting roles. Sedláček, in turn, had an excellent day in attack. He could either cross the ball or try to finish the play himself, but the right winger tried more his luck at shooting instead. The left winger crossed well and worked very well alongside Dvořáček.

HAMBURGER S.V.

The North Germans went to Prague with an excellent reputation, but they were unable to confirm it to the local public, not least due to their style of play, which was not outstanding against A.C. Sparta.

Goalkeeper Martens had an advantage on high balls, due to his height, but he was not very flexible on ground shots; he entertained the audience with his play, outside the penalty area. There were moments when the goalkeeper went to the sideline to clear the ball. The defence did not cope well with Sparta's combination game, although they were confident and played very hard against the insiders towards the end.

The main and basic mistake of the Germans was a weak half-back line which did not support the attack at all and did not perform well and successfully in defence, especially the centre-half Speyer, who stayed far behing compared to Káďa.

The offensive actions of the vanguard, according to the report, were completely simple and transparent to counter. However, they got a little help from the full-backs of A.C. Sparta.

The only sector which was not average was the inside trio, especially the penetrating centre-forward Harder, who was a tank and was always dangerous when the made a move; seeking for the infiltration or consuming ground with the ball. Schneider and Breuel were also good, but far below the performance of the attack leader. Both outside forwards were weak.