The football team from Ostrava, often referred to as Baník, triumphed in a tense quarterfinal match in the domestic cup against Hradec Králové, which culminated in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw in both regular and extra time. The penalty shootout ended with a score of 6-5 in favor of Ostrava, largely thanks to their goalkeeper Martin Jedlička, who made three crucial saves. This outcome means that Hradec Králové will not have the opportunity to host the cup final at their home ground, the Malšovická arena.

This marks a significant achievement for Baník, as they advance to the semifinals of the MOL Cup for the second consecutive season. The victory comes during a challenging period for the team, which is struggling in the league, currently sitting near the bottom of the standings and fighting to avoid relegation. Furthermore, this win represents the first success under their returning coach, Ondřej Smetana, in his third competitive match back in charge.

In another notable development in the tournament, favored Prague teams Slavia and Sparta both exited the competition after also losing in penalty shootouts earlier in the week, allowing Jablonec and Mladá Boleslav to advance. The final semifinalist will be determined on Thursday, with a match between Karviná and Plzeň, adding more excitement to the cup competition as the journey continues toward the final.