Necid at the double as Czechs win
Serbia and Montenegro u17
1-2 Czech Republic u17
May 3 2006
By Andrew Haigh, Stade Jos Nosbaum, Dudelange.
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A second half double by Tomas Necid, which included
a stunning 25-yard thunderbolt, gave the Czech Republic a 2-1 winning start to their Group B campaign.
In an evenly contested match, Necid's quality up front proved the dividing factor for the Czechs.
In the opening exchanges, the Eastern European duo failed to show anything like the potential that they will hope
to produce in order to qualify for the semi-finals.
The first half saw little major opportunities for either side chances as the teams were evenly matched.
FK Partizan's Stevan Jovetic had Serbia and Montenegro's two most notable efforts within the first six minutes,
however, he could not convert either.
Jovetic's first chance was saved by keeper Marek Stech and his second was blazed over after a slip by Czech defender.
The Czech's could have made Jovetic pay ten minutes later but Jakub Heidenreich's skilful free-kick was saved by
impressive Serbian keeper Marko Knezkivic.
After the break, either side could have broken the deadlock within the first two minutes of the half.
A deflected Czech cross rebounded off the top of the bar and fell kindly for striker Tomas Pekhart, only for the
ball to judged out of play.
Serbia and Montenegro's Veljko Vukovic then had their best opportunity of the match a minute later, latching on
to a through ball from Zarija Pelicic. But he dragged the ball wide of the left post when one-on-one with the keeper.
Necid then stunned the crowd with his audacious 25 yard strike on 50 minutes.
Tomas Pekhart neatly controlled the ball on his chest, then his thigh before laying the ball off to Necid, who
with plenty of time unleashed a drive into the top left of the goal.
After the goal, the game became ill tempered and players on either side needed medical treatment on numerous occasions.
Necid then doubled the Czech's lead after a blocked shot fell kindly to him on the edge of the area.
Necid ran through on goal and finished confidently as he powerful shot across the keeper in to the bottom left
of the goal.
Five minutes later, Vukovic made up for his earlier miss with a well taken strike from the edge of the 18-yard
box.
Good work by substitute Slavko Perovic set up the Vukovic, who struck the ball sweetly into the bottom left of
the net.
But his effort proved worthless as the Czechs ran out 2-1 winners.
Attendence: 431
Teams:
Serbia and Montenegro: Marko Knezevic, Dusan Brkovic, Rajko Brezancic (Darko Karadzic, 70), Milos Nikolic, Nikola
Gulan, Zarija Pelicic (Nenad Adamovic, 51), Stevan Jovetic, Veljko Vukovic, Goran Cetnik, Marko Nikolic (Slavko
Perovic, 62) , Slavko Lukic.
Subs: Zivko Zivkovic, Vladan Pelicic
Czech Republic: Marek Stech, Ondrej Mazuch, Jan Polak, Jan Hable, Martin Holek (Martin Zeman, 40), Tomas Necid,
Tomas Pekhart, Petr Reinberk (Ivan Lacko, 66), Jakub Heidenriech, Petr Wojnar (Radim Reznik, 80) , Jakub Susser.
Subs: Ondrej Volsik, Jan Vosalik, Mirolsav Stepanek, |
