Asteras Tripolis and Sparta Prague have played out a 1-1 draw in their Europa League Group K match at Theodoros Kolokotronis Stadium.
Asteras were embarking upon only their second ever European group stage campaign after going out at this stage of the competition last year, and they began in the best possible fashion this time around.
The home side broke downfield quickly and when Facundo Bertoglio played in Pablo Mazza on the left, the winger fired smartly across David Bicik to find the bottom corner to open the scoring after just two minutes.
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Apostolos Giannou forced a save from Bicik as APOEL broke away again, but Sparta began to wrestle control of the game and had a great chance to equalise when Josef Husbauer shot narrowly wide from 15 yards.
Martin Frydek headed against the post as the Czech side continued to hunt for an equaliser, and they finally got back on level terms 10 minutes after the break when Frydek's low cross found its way through the box to David Lafata to slot home.
Both sides had chances to snatch victory in the closing period but ultimately had to settle for a single point to begin their respective campaigns.
Tom Nightingale
