Articles

Late goal saved the Czech Republic in Glasgow

Late goal from the penalty spot for 2-2 bring to Czech Republic equality by Euro2012 qualifiers against Scotland.

Craig Levein’s side, hunting a place in the qualification play-offs, needed a victory to close the gap on the Czechs in the race to finish second behind runaway group leaders Spain.

They were in control when Darren Fletcher set up Kenny Miller to open the scoring a minute before the break. But the Czechs laid siege to the Scotland goal in the secondhalf and got the goal their pressure deserved when Jaroslav Pasil headed home a 78th equaliser.

A Jan Rajnoch mistake allowed Miller to cross for Fletcher to put Scotland ahead again in the 83rd minute.

However, there was heartbreak for the Scots when Dutch referee Kevin Blom pointed to the spot in the 90th minute after substitute Jan Rezek went down even though replays showed Danny Wilson made no contact with his challenge.

Kadlec expertly converted the resulting penalty which leaves Scotland, who have played a game less, five points behind the Czechs in second place.

Manchester United midfielder Fletcher had returned to captain Scotland despite concerns over his fitness after a mystery virus which had sidelined him for several months.

The Czechs soon made their presence felt when Milan Baros sent Petr Jiracek scampering down the left. The Galatasaray striker burst into the box to get on the end of his cut-back but sliced his shot over the bar.

Their impressive start continued when Tomas Rosicky floated a free-kick into the box which Rajnoch headed just over Allan McGregor’s bar.

The Czechs were claiming for a penalty when Charlie Adam appeared to barge Baros off the ball in the box but Blom waved away their protests.

Scotland had failed to put debutant keeper Jan Lastuvka, in for the injured Peter Cech, under any pressure but he was finally called into action after 30 minutes when he reacted quickest to smother a headed Miller knock-down for Steven Naismith.