FOOTBALL: Euro hopes dashed by quick goals
NORTHERN Ireland's European Under 21 Championship campaign was dented after a narrow defeat to the Czech Republic.
Goals from Martin Zeman and Libor Kozak sealed the win for the Czechs, while Northern Ireland's only reply came from a free kick in the 81st minute by Manchester United youngster Oliver Norwood.
It took the Czechs just six minutes to carve out their first opening. Northern Ireland keeper Trevor Carson doing well to turn away a Martin Zeman free kick.
Six minutes later the visitors had another chance. A huge mix-up in the home defence let in Libor Kozak, but Johnny Flynn got back to clear the danger.
In the 19th minute Kozak had another great chance to score, but he failed to connect with the free kick when well placed.
Then with nine minutes left in the half it was 1-0 to the Czechs. A curling free kick from Zeman avoiding everybody in the box and ending up in the far corner of the net.
A minute later it was 2-0. A well flighted cross found Kozak and his glancing header gave Carson no chance.
Seven minutes into the second half Northern Ireland had a great chance to pull one back. Oliver Norwood drilled in a free kick, but the Czech keeper did well to push it round the post.
It really should have been 3-0 in the 69th minute. Zeman put Boak Dockai in the clear, but he shot wide and he really should have done better
To their credit the home side kept pushing forward and in the 81st minute it was 2-1. Manchester United youngster Norwood hitting the target with a beautiful curling free kick from 25 yards, giving the Czech keeper no chance.
Four minutes later the Czechs nearly grabbed their third of the night.
Zeman's 30 yard free kick hitting the crossbar with Carson struggling.
The home side had a great chance to level the scores at the very death.
A Norwood free kick found Craig Cathcart. He knocked it down to Josh McQuoid, but he failed to trouble the keeper from close range. Northern Ireland then huffed and puffed in the final stages to get something out of the game, however the Czechs held out for a deserved 2-1 victory.
Northern Ireland: Carson, Hodson (McQuoid, 46 mins), McGivern, Evans, Flynn, Cathcart, Weir (Casement, 70 mins), Norwood, Kee, Lawrie (Ferguson, 80 mins), McClean. Substitutes - McLaughlin, O'Neil, Boyce, Magennis.
Czech Republic: Vaclik, Celustka, Mazuch, Suchy, Dockai (Wojnar, 88 mins), Horava, Marecek, Vacha, Zeman (Kovraek, 90 mins), Kozak, Rabusic (Vosahlik, 68 mins). Substitutes - Jakubov, Drekfa, Smejkal, Macol.
Referee - A Deaconu (Romania).
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
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