Jan Kliment fired Czechia to within 90 minutes of the World Cup finals by breaking Republic of Ireland hearts in a dramatic penalty shootout, setting up a showdown with Denmark.
Substitute Kliment scored the decisive spot-kick at the Fortuna Arena after Finn Azaz and Alan Browne had their efforts saved by Matej Kovar, booking a clash with the Danes on Tuesday night with a trip to the United States, Canada, and Mexico at stake.
Republic of Ireland had come within four minutes of victory when Wolves defender Ladislav Krejcí headed the hosts level on a night when the visitors had led 2-0 after just 23 minutes, leaving them dreaming of a first World Cup adventure since 2002.
Czechia 2-2 Republic of Ireland (Czechia Wins on Penalties) – WC Qualifier
First Half: Ireland’s Dream Start Turns into a Tense Battle
Troy Parrott, whose hat-trick in Hungary booked their place in the playoff semifinals, nervelessly converted a 19th-minute penalty before Kovar’s unfortunate own goal. It took a 27th-minute spot-kick from Patrik Schick to drag Miroslav Koubek’s men back into it in his first game at the helm.
Republic of Ireland would have taken a seventh-minute lead had Kovar not tipped Nathan Collins’ shot onto the crossbar after it clipped defender Robin Hranác on its way to goal. The Ireland skipper also passed up a glorious opportunity by heading wide from Azaz’s delivery at the resulting corner.
They were ahead with 19 minutes gone after Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg reviewed Vladimir Darida’s challenge on Collins—following Lukás Provod heading down Jake O’Brien’s long throw inside the box—and pointed to the penalty spot.
Parrott had to wait as the Czechs protested but thumped his spot-kick low to Kovar’s right for a dream start.
They were in dreamland four minutes later when Collins, left unmarked beyond the far post, headed Ryan Manning’s corner into the six-yard box. Vladimir Coufal’s attempted clearance hit a post, struck the unwitting Kovar, and dropped over the line.
The hosts grabbed a lifeline with 27 minutes gone when Nyberg awarded a second penalty for Manning’s needless tug on Krejci’s shirt. Schick duly obliged from 12 yards.
Second Half Drama and Extra Time Heartbreak
Jayson Molumby saw a 53rd-minute effort come back off a post after Azaz’s corner was cleared to him on the edge of the box. Kovar had to palm away Parrott’s 81st-minute header after Dara O’Shea flicked on another O’Brien throw-in.
The sting in the tail came with just four minutes remaining when Krejci powered substitute Michal Sadílek’s free-kick past helpless goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher to level.
Worrying scenes unfolded in extra time when Sammie Szmodics collided with fellow substitute Stepán Chaloupek and had to be carried off on a stretcher. Ireland’s hopes were dashed cruelly as Kovar’s night turned for the better.
Skipper Krejcí’s intervention took the tie to extra time, and the Czechs squeezed through 4-3 on penalties despite Heimir Hallgrímsson’s men producing a performance of real character.
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