Club Friendly· Season 2026
Zlín beat Dukla Trenčín 2-1 after overtime in a pre-season friendly in Trenčín, with Richard Jarůšek scoring the winner at 61:40 to avenge last week's defeat.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
The opening period ended goalless despite both teams having power-play time — Trenčín's Jakub Hrenák and Zlín's Daniel Kantor each stood firm through a cautious first frame.
Zlín broke the deadlock at 32:54 when defenceman Šimon Vrbecký found the net, putting the visitors ahead. The lead lasted barely two minutes. Ryan Merkley pulled Trenčín level at 34:56, redirecting a point shot past Kantor to make it 1-1.
That score held through the third period, which saw Trenčín's Jaedon Descheneau handed a 2+2-minute high-sticking penalty at 54:57. Zlín could not convert on the ensuing four-minute power play, and the game went to 3-on-3 overtime.
At 61:40, Richard Jarůšek won it. The forward surprised Hrenák with a quick wrist shot from the right side that squeezed through the goaltender's pads, sparking celebrations among the visiting bench.
The Turning Point
Jarůšek's OT winner at 61:40 was the decisive moment, but Zlín's failure to score on Descheneau's four-minute high-sticking penalty (54:57–58:57) could have swung the game the other way. Trenčín killed it effectively, only to concede moments into the extra frame when Zlín's fresh legs on the smaller 3-on-3 surface made the difference.
Key Performers
- Richard Jarůšek (Zlín) — Player of the Match. Scored the OT winner (61:40) and was Zlín's most dangerous forward throughout.
- Šimon Vrbecký (Zlín) — Opened the scoring at 32:54 with a well-timed rush from the blue line; steady defensive work.
- Ryan Merkley (Trenčín) — Equalised 1-1 at 34:56 with a key goal from the point. The most active Trenčín player going forward.
- Jakub Hrenák (Trenčín) — Made several strong saves in the third period, notably during Descheneau's penalty kill, but beaten on the OT winner.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
Penalties finished 2-2 (Trenčín: tripping 7:10, Descheneau 2+2 high-sticking 54:57; Zlín: slashing 10:51, tripping 37:28) and neither team converted a power play (0/2 each). The 0-for-2 PP efficiency reflects cautious, structure-first play typical of pre-season, where special-teams chemistry remains a work in progress. Trenčín's Merkley goal and Zlín's two tallies all came at even strength.
The shot volume (not published in full by official sources) was relatively low through a tight-checking first 40 minutes before both sides opened up in the third and overtime.
What It Means
Zlín (3-3 in pre-season) snapped a three-match losing run — following defeats to Žilina (2-4), Trenčín (2-3) and Nitra (3-7) — with a hard-fought road win. Peter Oremus's side next faces Vlci Žilina at home on 1 September before beginning their Maxa Liga campaign.
Dukla Trenčín (2-2 in pre-season under new Canadian coach Todd Woodcroft) now turn their attention to the 79th edition of the Tatranský pohár (Tatra Cup) in Poprad, starting 28 August, as their final preparation before the Tipsport Liga season.
Verdict
A tight, competitive pre-season affair with more structure than flair — typical for late August. Zlín's resilience after a tough week shows Oremus's squad is building character, while Woodcroft's Trenčín will take defensive positives from the PK but need more finishing at even strength.
Match Events
Key match events between Zlin and Dukla Trencin — 3 goals and 0 cards recorded during the match.
Rivalry since 2009
Zlin vs Dukla Trencin Head to Head Results· 16
Zlin and Dukla Trencin have met 16 times — Zlin won 10, Dukla Trencin won 4, with 2 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2009. Zlin leads the head-to-head with 10 victories from 16 meetings. A combined 100 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 6.25 per match (58 for the home side, 42 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 16 matches (100%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 16 games (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. Zlin are currently unbeaten in the last 3 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 6–5 in 2009.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 27 Aug 2026