Necid sends Czechs through
Czech Republic u17 3-1 Belgium
u17
May 8 2006
By Andrew Haigh, Stade Op Flohr, Grevenmacher.
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A double from Tomas Necid and a wonder-strike by Petr Wojnar gave the Czech Republic a 3-1 win and confirmed them
as runners up in group B.
But Necid, the tournament's joint top-scorer with four, will miss the semi-final with favourites Spain after he
picked up a second booking in three matches.
The match began evenly and was mostly contest in the centre of midfield with a number of heavy challenges.
But the game sprung into life with Wojnar's superb 11th minute effort. He picked the ball up on the edge of the
Belgian area, turned and struck a curling wonder-strike with his left foot. Belgium goalkeeper Tom Vandenbossche
was helpless as it flew past his outstretched left hand into the top right of the net.
Belgium began to fight back and after a reckless challenge by Tomas Necid, which left the striker suspended for
the semi-finals, they had a dangerous free-kick cleared by the Czech defence on 22 minutes.
Two minutes later Belgium midfielder Toby Alderweireld ventured forward into an attack and as his team mate went
to ground in the area he appealed for a spot kick.
But as he pleaded to the referee for a penalty, the ball came to his feet and unleashed a low drive towards the
left post, only to miss by a couple of feet.
The Czechs hit back a minute later when Jan Vosalik rounded two Belgian defenders and with Necid waiting in a central
position, went for glory. But his effort was smartly tipped wide of the right upright by Vandenbossche.
Towards the end of the half the Czechs had two opportunities to double the lead. Firstly Necid wasted a glorious
chance when Vosalik floated a high cross to him but after he controlled well on his chest, he lofted the ball high
and wide right
Then, in injury time, Vosalik broke through the defence and went one-on-one with Vandenbossche but his rash, rushed
effort was recklessly high and wide.
With the Czechs dominating and Germany winning 3-0 in Group B's other fixture, it seemed like the top two before
the kick-off would be the two who progressed to the semi-finals.
After being so wasteful with their chances at the end of the first period, the Czechs began the second in ruthless
fashion.
A long, low through ball wasn't intercepted by the Belgian defence and Necid, who had gambled on the ball reaching
him, picked up the ball 30-yards out, dribbled inside the area and coolly chipped over the keeper to double the
lead.
Necid's third strike of the finals, just two minutes into the second half, silenced what was a vociferous Belgium
support and gave the Czechs the breathing space in the race for qualification.
The Czechs then dominated the next quarter of an hour and managed to stub out every Belgian attack, with Ondrej
Mazuch especially dominant in the heart of the defence. The big central defender often stepped out of the line
of defence and killed off any attack before it became threatening.
Radim Reznik was the benefactor of a flowing Czech move on 57 minutes when half a dozen interchanges in midfield
lead to an opportunity on the right edge of the area. His right-footed attempt was narrowly wide of the near upright.
Necid then doubled his personal tally when he once again was found breaking through the line of defence. Necid,
full of confidence after his first strike, stroked the ball home from 12 yards into the bottom left of the goal.
With four minutes remaining, Belgium recorded a consolation when Czech keeper Marek Stech fumbled from a cross
with substitute Medhi on hand to tap in a simple finish from 6 yards.
In injury time Necid should have completed his hat-trick when more lacklustre defending by the Belgians lead yet
another one-on-one with the keeper but this time the striker missed the target as he lobbed over the bar.
Attendance: 450
Teams:
Czech Republic: Marek Stech, Ondrej Mazuch, Jan Polak, Jan Hable, Lukas Vacha, Jan Vosalik (Tomas Pekhart, 69),
Tomas Necid, Petr Reinberk, Radim Reznik, Jakub Heidenriech, Petr Wojnar (Martin Holek, 78).
Subs: Ondrej Volsik, Martin Zeman, Mirolsav Stepanek, Ivan Lacko, Jakub Susser.
Belgium: Tom Vandenbossche, Toby Alderweireld, Cor Gillis, Jeremy Huyghebaert, Axel Witsel, Siegard Degeling, Dieter
Wittesaele, Gael Arend, Livio D'Amires (Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez, 40), Robbe Van Ruyskensvelde, Maurizio Aquino (Jens
Van Damme, 69),
Subs: Cyprien Baguette, Enrico Pellegriti, Cedric Baes, Dwayne Dildick, Niels De Loof. |
