SM
Spurs vs. Man City: 1 hr 47 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
CR
Nations League | League B
Sep 7, 2020 at 7.45pm UK
Andrův stadion
SN

Czech Republic
1 - 2
Scotland

Pesek (12')
Malinsky (52'), Janos (90+2')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Dykes (27'), Christie (52' pen.)
Armstrong (48'), Robertson (64'), McKenna (79'), Palmer (85')

Scotland come from behind to scrape past makeshift Czech Republic

:Headline: Result: Scotland come from behind to scrape past makeshift Czech Republic: ID:413403: from db_amp
Ryan Christie's penalty won it for Steve Clarke's side, who had to come from behind.

Unconvincing Scotland survived a nervy night to beat a makeshift Czech Republic side 2-1 in their Nations League encounter in Olomouc.

The hosts had quickly cobbled together a squad after the original group and staff had been stood down amid coronavirus concerns over the weekend.

The Czech Republic started with nine debutants and one of them, Jakub Pesek, stunned Scotland with an 11th-minute opener.

Winning his second cap, Lyndon Dykes levelled with his first Scotland goal in the 27th minute and Ryan Christie scored his second penalty in two games seven minutes after the break.

However, Steve Clarke's side continued to live dangerously in the Andruv Stadium and there were several moments of panic before the final whistle.

The victory extended Scotland's unbeaten run to five games but it was a worrying performance ahead of the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Israel next month.

This match had been shrouded in controversy since Friday when the Czech Republic had declared the fixture to be off after two players had to self-isolate following contact with a backroom staff member who had tested positive for coronavirus.

UEFA, however, insisted it go ahead with a new set of players and management.

Roman Hubnik, 36, came out of international retirement and only he and striker Stanislav Tecl had previously been capped in a squad chosen by stand-in boss David Holoubek, who took over from Jaroslav Silhavy.

As expected, Clarke made changes from Friday's 1-1 home draw against Israel.

In came Liam Palmer, Liam Cooper, Kenny McLean, John Fleck and Stuart Armstrong, at the expense of Kieran Tierney, James Forrest, Callum McGregor, Ryan Jack and John McGinn.

After all the pre-match fuss, nothing much happened until the home side took the lead after McLean gave away possession with a slack pass.

The ball landed at Tecl and he slipped in Pesek who, with time and space, coolly dinked the ball past goalkeeper David Marshall.

It was exactly the start Clarke did not want and shortly afterwards, Marshall tipped away a long-range drive from Pesek.

Scotland slowly worked their way back into the game and in the 24th minute a drive from Christie from almost on the by-line was saved by Ales Mandous.

Three minutes later Palmer took a cross-field pass from skipper Andy Robertson and his delivery from the right was knocked in by Dykes from close range.

However, it was the Czechs who finished the half the more threatening and in the 40th minute, after a careless pass from Christie failed to find Fleck, Marshall saved a decent effort from Adam Janos, with a Tomas Malinsky effort flying over the crossbar shortly afterwards.

Scotland took the opportunity to forge ahead in the 52nd minute when midfielder Malinsky fouled Robertson and Christie steered the spot-kick past the diving Mandous.

But the Scots still struggled to shake off their game opponents.

On the hour mark, Czech midfielder Marek Havlik came close with a curling free-kick from just outside the box which clipped a post.

The visitors looked ragged.

Marshall made a terrific save from the unmarked Pesek and Tecl, with the goal gaping, stumbled and the ball went behind.

It was a real let-off for the visitors, who had replaced the injured Dykes with Callum Paterson while McGinn came on for Fleck.

In the 72nd minute, as Scotland defended their penalty area, home defender Vaclav Jemelka fired a drive inches over.

Paterson missed a chance on the break but in the final minute of normal time Czech substitute Antonin Rusek hit a post with a header as Scotland escaped once again.

amp_article__413403 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-09-07 21:10:12:
html db last update - 2021-03-10 21:23:38 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal37275589286186
2Manchester CityMan City36267391335885
3Liverpool372310484414379
4Aston Villa37208976562068
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs361961171591263
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle361761379572257
7Chelsea361691173611257
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd36166145256-454
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham371410135971-1252
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton361212125458-448
11Bournemouth37139155365-1248
12Crystal Palace371210155258-646
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves37137175063-1346
14Fulham37128175159-844
15Everton37139153949-1040
16Brentford37109185461-739
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3789204766-1929
18Luton TownLuton3768235081-3126
RBurnley3759234076-3624
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd37372735101-6616
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .