Ceesay’s Žilina seal double with sixth Slovakian title win

Gambia international Momodou “Zico” Ceesay and his MŠK Žilina have completed the domestic double for the first time in their history after clinching the Slovakian title with a 2-0 success at DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda.

Zico’s Žilina, who won the Slovakian Cup with a 3-2 win against FC Senica on 8 May, needed to win their final league match of the season in order to avoid the possibility of a dramatic title play-off against FC Spartak Trnava, who fulfilled their half of the bargain by winning at FC Nitra.

However, Spartak’s hopes of another shot at the title were dashed as defender Ján Marcin diverted Miroslav Barcík’s rasping shot past his own keeper ten minutes into the second half and substitute Jean Deza, who scored the late winner in the cup final, condemned bottom-placed Dunajská to a two-goal defeat with an elegant lob four minutes from time.

Zico played his part in the game after he was introduced as a second-half substitute in the 56th minute replacing Ján Novák. He had the chance to make it three in the final minutes of the match but he lost his footing and placed the ball wide past Pavel Kucera’s goal.

“We deserve this victory,” said Frans Adelaar, who replaced Ľuboš Nosický at the helm of MŠK two months ago. “I am satisfied and proud to be the coach of the team that has won the club’s first double. We said at half-time not to be so nervous, to wait for our chances – and they came in the end.”

By winning their sixth title, Žilina have moved level with ŠK Slovan Bratislava as the club to have won the most titles since Slovakian independence. The northern Slovakian outfit, whose previous title wins came in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2010, have become the fifth club to win the league and cup double, following in the footsteps of Slovan Bratislava, Inter Bratislava, MFK Ružomberok and MFK Petržalka.

“To catch Slovan Bratislava on title wins is a good feeling, but I would like to have ten titles,” said Žilina’s owner, Jozef Antošík. “But this success means we have done a good job at this club. Now we have to strengthen our squad in order to be successful in Europe.”

This success capped a tremendous season for Zico’s Žilina, who won their last title in 2010. They will enter the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League at the second preliminary round. It will be the 58th season of Europe’s premier club football tournament organized by UEFA, and the 21st season since it was renamed from the European Champion Clubs’ Cup to the UEFA Champions League.