Victor Olatunji shines as Sparta Prague triumphs over Jablonec

Nigerian forward Victor Olatunji clinches victory for Sparta Prague in a crucial clash against Jablonec in the Czech Republic.

Victor Olatunji emerged as a key player for "Sparta Prague", netting the decisive goal in a thrilling 2-1 encounter against "Jablonec" at Stadion Letná on Sunday.

Olatunji's impactful substitution crowned the match, underlining "Sparta's" determination to close the gap with league leaders and rivals "Slavia Prague".

The game started unfavorably for "Sparta" as Vakhtang Tchanturishvili's well-aimed strike from outside the box put "Jablonec" ahead 1-0 in the 34th minute.

"Sparta" responded post-interval, with Albion Rrahmani leveling the score on 51 minutes via a precise finish after Qazim Laçi’s corner delivery.

The Nigerian entered for Rrahmani in the 63rd minute and wasted just 15 minutes to make an impact. By the 78th minute, the Lagos-born striker had demonstrated his keen instincts in the box, sending a powerful shot into the top corner, confirming the victory.

Olatunji's impact by numbers: his role emphasizes his growing importance for the reigning champions, against the backdrop of limited playtime this season — 18 matches, but only 6 starts. His efficiency is marked with six league goals, averaging a goal every 124 minutes, equivalent to 0.3 goals per game.

In his 27-minute appearance against "Jablonec", Olatunji registered one goal from his sole accurate shot, completed one successful dribble out of one attempt, and had just nine touches coupled with a passing accuracy of 50% (3/6). His physicality was apparent in duels, winning one of two ground and one of two aerial duels.

Despite Olatunji’s heroics, "Sparta" remains 13 points behind league leaders "Slavia Prague" after 19 games. With 11 regular-season matches remaining, they will need contributions from Olatunji and others to narrow the gap in the title race.