A header from Radoslav Kovac edged the Czech Republic to a 1-0 victory
over Cyprus and took them back to the top of Group D, level on points
with Germany, the race to qualify for Euro 2008. Elsewhere, the Republic
of Ireland claimed their 1-0 home win in five days, defeating Slovakia
at Croke Park, while Wales got a morale-boosting 3-0 win in Cardiff over
lowly San Marino.
In Liberec, substitute Kovac, on for the injured Zdenek Grygera, scored
midway through the first half, and the Czechs might have gone on to record
an emphatic victory, but Cyprus defended stoutly to prevent any further
scoring, without ever threatening the Czech goal themselves.
The game was 22 minutes old when Karel Bruckner's side made the breakthrough,
Arsenal's Tomas Rosicky sending in a corner that Kovac headed into the
bottom right-hand corner.
The three points took the Czech Republic level on 13 points with Germany,
who have a game in hand.
In third on 10 points now are the Republic of Ireland, after Kevin Doyle's
first-half goal kept the their qualification hopes very much alive in
Dublin against Slovakia.
It was a much better performance by the Republic than against Wales at
the weekend, with Damien Duff in fine form on the left wing and Stephen
Ireland linking well with Lee Carsley in central midfield.
And they went ahead on 12 minutes when the impressive Duff flighted in
a free-kick that Doyle did very well to get his head to from a difficult
angle under pressure from Martin Skrtel.
Marek Sapara glanced a header wide in a good position from Dusan Svento's
cross, and Shay Given saved well from a Robert Vittek 25-yarder. And in
the 58th minute Slovakia had a penalty appeal waved way when Martin Jakubko
went down under a Paul McShane challenge.
But Irish substitute Shane Long should have doubled the Republic's lead
in the 78th minute when club-mate Stephen Hunt's inviting cross set him
up, but his header was cleared off the line by Vratislav Gresko. And two
minutes later Long missed an even better chance when from point-blank
range he headed another fine cross from Hunt wide with the goal gaping.
Then Given made a late point-blank save from Filip Holosko to preserve
the Republic's win - their fourth on the trot in Group D.
In Cardiff, Wales secured a 3-0 victory over San Marino at the Millennium
Stadium, where Ryan Giggs got them off to a fine start with the opening
goal after three minutes, the Manchester United star making the most of
a fine through-ball from Jason Koumas.
And the much-admired Gareth Bale doubled the Welsh lead with a coolly
despatched curling shot from 20 yards. Koumas also hit the bar just before
the break, and the West Bromwich Albion midfielder also squeezed home
a penalty at the second attempt.
Wales manager John Toshack adopted a more offensive 4-3-1-2 formation,
with
Koumas back central midfield following suspension, and Jermain Easter
given his first Wales start alongside Craig Bellamy in attack.
Koumas made a big difference, creating the early opening for Giggs to
exploit with aplomb. And Giggs nearly caught out San Marino goalkeeper
Aldo Junior Simoncini with a 40-yard lob, the keeper also recovering well
to block Bellamy's follow-up.
Bale's excellent second goal was followed by a good Simon Davies effort,
and a Giggs shot that Simoncini saved. Giggs then lobbed over from eight
yards when he should have done better.
Substituted Cotterill produced a clever turn that provoked a rash challenge
from San Marino defender Carlo Valentina, and though the foul looked to
have been committed just outside the area, the ref pointed to the spot.
Koumas made a hash of an attempted chip from the spot, and the diving
Simoncini blocked the ball with his foot, but the ball trickled into the
net as Koumas followed up.
Wales are fifth with six points, three fewer than fourth-placed Slovakia,
who have played a game more. San Marino remain bottom of Group D with
no points from four games.
,
29/03/2007.
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