Tomas Holes and Patrik Schick scored second-half goals to take the Czech Republic into the Euro 2020 quarterfinal as it took advantage of a red card for the Netherlands to upset its more fancied opponents and win 2-0 in Budapest on Sunday.
Holes powered home a 68th-minute opener after being set up by Tomas Kalas, as the Dutch watched on hopelessly in its own penalty area.
Schick made sure of the Czechs' surprise success with a close-range finish 10 minutes from full time, in front of a capacity crowd that provided a deafening wall of noise at the Puskas Arena for most of an absorbing last-16 contest.
It was a calamitous outcome for the Dutch, which imploded after Matthijs de Ligt was sent off for a cynical handball 10 minutes into the second half, and it will now face some serious soul searching.
de Ligt was sent off after a VAR review by Russian referee Sergei Karasev after punching away the ball as he tumbled to the ground in a tussle with Schick.
Before that pivotal moment, the Dutch had looked to get on top of its opponents with its overlapping runs and passing ability, but a moment of madness from its 21-year-old centre back swung the balance of the contest towards the Czechs, which needed no second invitation to grab the initiative.
The Czechs is now through to face a quarterfinal clash with Denmark in Baku on Saturday, turning around its Euro 2020 fortunes having only reached the knockout phase after finishing third in their group.
Czech Republic vs Netherlands - Highlights
The Dutch could have gone ahead before being reduced to 10 men, with fullbacks Denzel Dumfries and Patrick van Aanholt creating several chances with their overlapping runs.
Yet striker Memphis Depay looked out of sorts and Donyell Malen hesitated with several opportunities -- no more so than when sprinting through the Czech defence to go one on one with Tomas Vaclik, just after the break, before having the ball snatched away from his feet as he tried to round the keeper.
There was an opportunity for the Czechs when stand-in captain Tomas Soucek glanced a difficult header wide in the 22nd minute and Antonin Barak blasted past the target from a tight angle 16 minutes later.
Once de Ligt was dismissed, the Czechs assumed control and the goal came as the Dutch defence was caught static by a set piece that saw Kalas climb above the defence to head back for Holes to score, with veteran Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg caught in no man’s land.
The Dutch then sought to throw on some attacking artillery but quickly wilted in the searing heat as Schick made it 2-0 with Holes pulling the ball back for the striker to net his fourth goal of the tournament.
Comments
SHARE