Czech Republic 1 - 2 Scotland: Finished | 2020-09-07 | UEFA Nations League

Goalkeepers	G	GC	SAV
Ales Mandous	0	2	1

Forwards	G	GA	S	FC	FW
Stanislav Tecl	0	1	1	1	3

Midfielders	G	S	FC	FW
Tomas Malinsky	0	2	3	1
Adam Janos	0	1	4	1
Marek Havlik 81'	0	2	1	0
Jakub Pesek 76' 11'	1	3	1	1
Lukas Budinsky 55'	0	1	0	1

Defenders	S	FC	FW
Tomás Holes	2	1	1
Jaroslav Zeleny	0	2	0
Roman Hubnik	1	0	0
Vaclav Jemelka	3	3	1

Substitutes	S	FC	FW
Radim Breite 55'(Lukas Budinsky)	0	0	2
Roman Potocny 76'(Jakub Pesek)	0	0	0
Antonin Rusek 81'(Marek Havlik)	2	1	1
Simon Gabriel	0	0	0
Tomas Solil	0	0	0
Adam Karabec	0	0	0
Jachym Sip	0	0	0
Ondrej Karafiat	0	0	0
Daniel Holzer	0	0	0
Jan Juroska	0	0	0
Filip Nguyen	0	-	-
Jakub Markovic	0	-	-

Goalkeepers	G	GC	SAV
David Marshall	0	1	3

Forwards	G	GA	S	FC	FW
Ryan Christie 52'	1	0	2	1	3
Lyndon Dykes 67' 27'	1	0	1	0	3

Midfielders	GA	FC	FW
Liam Palmer	1	1	1
Andrew Robertson	0	0	1
Kenny McLean	0	1	1
Stuart Armstrong 80'	0	1	1
John Fleck 71'	0	2	0

Defenders	FC	FW
Scott McKenna	1	0
Scott McTominay	3	1
Liam Cooper	1	0

Substitutes	S	FC	FW
Callum Paterson 67'(Lyndon Dykes)	1	0	2
John McGinn 71'(John Fleck)	0	0	3
Callum McGregor 80'(Stuart Armstrong)	0	2	0
Greg Taylor	0	0	0
James Forrest	0	0	0
Ryan Jack	0	0	0
Stephen O'Donnell	0	0	0
Kieran Tierney	0	0	0
Declan Gallagher	0	0	0
Oliver Burke	0	0	0
Robby McCrorie	0	-	-
Jon McLaughlin	0	-	-

90'+4'

That is all from this fixture in Olomouc, until next time!

90'+4'

Looking ahead, Clarke's side have their Euro 2020 qualifier against Israel next. Has the Scotland boss seen enough to stick with a back three or will he revert back to a back four? For Czech Republic, their next competitive fixture is also against Israel in this Nations League group, though they will be hoping to have their regular squad back out of isolation and in action by then.

90'+4'

Despite the hosts' completely new squad, they put up a brave fight and Scotland will feel somewhat relieved to escape Olomouc with three points. Pesek had initially given Holoubek's makeshift side the lead, however, Clarke's side responded through Dykes' intelligent finish, before Christie's penalty clinched Scotland the 2-1 win away from home.

90'+4'

FULL-TIME: CZECH REPUBLIC 1-2 SCOTLAND

90'+3'

The hosts are throwing everything foward in hopes of an equaliser. Zeleny attempts to find one of the numerous red shirts in the area, however, McTominay is there to deflect the cross away for a corner.

90'+2'

Janos is booked for a nasty foul on Paterson as Scotland look to counter-attack from the hosts' corner.

90'+1'

There will be four minutes of added time and Scotland have a free-kick in the corner as Christie is brought down, while looking to waste time and protect the ball near the byline.

89'

POST! Potocny whips in a dangerous cross towards the back post, Rusek rises the highest above Palmer and redirects his header towards Marshall's near post. The substitute's header looks to be heading wide but, much to Scotland's relief, clips the outside of the left post.

88'

McGregor is late and high on the halfway line and the Czechs will have another chance to send in a long free-kick. The resulting free-kick is turned away by Cooper in the area for another corner.

86'

Potocny sends in a dangerous free-kick but Paterson is on hand to produce a brilliant defensive header over his own bar. Christie then breaks down the other end and looks to be through on goal, however, he doesn't quite have the legs to outrun the last Czech defender.

85'

Palmer slides in late on Jemelka and is booked. The wing-back got none of the ball there and only the man.

84'

Palmer, who has perhaps been Scotland's best player in this game, deflects another Zeleny cross away for a throw-in deep in the Scots' half.

83'

If Scotland remain firm here, Clarke will have lead his side to consecutive away wins – the Tartan Army last did this in March 2016 under Gordon Strachan.

81'

Růsek is brought on to replace Havlik.

81'

WIDE! As the hosts chase an equaliser, they are leaving increasing space behind their defence. Paterson capitalises on this space, racing in to the area and hitting a strike on the half-volley with his left foot, which goes just wide of Mandous' goal.

80'

McGregor comes on in place of Armstrong to offer fresh legs on the wings for Clarke's side.

79'

Havlik sends the free-kick straight in to Scotland's wall and the chance comes to nothing. The hosts will be disappointed from there, he has to test Marshall.

79'

McKenna is booked for his foul on Tecl and his complaints after.

78'

Tecl is hoisted to the ground by McKenna, who had both arms wrapped around the forward. Czech Republic will have a free-kick in a very dangerous position 25 yards out.

77'

McGinn weaves his way through two tackles and is fouled on the halfway line, earning Scotland some form of respite.

76'

Perhaps the brightest spark for the hosts in this game, Pesek, is taken off for Potocny.

75'

Clarke's screams are audible in this empty stadium, he is instructing his side to get up the pitch and get out but it seems Scotland are almost in survival mode as the back three retreats further and further back.

71'

Fleck, who has worked hard in midifield for Scotland, is replaced by Aston Villa's McGinn.

70'

Malinsky theatrically falls down on the right under pressure from Paterson and somehow earns a free-kick for his efforts. Havlik swings in a left-footed cross, but Paterson and Cooper do superbly to block the cross before it reaches Marshall.

68'

CHANCE! How have the hosts not scored here? Havlik finds space from a throw-in and rolls a pass in to Pesek, who looks to place the ball with his right foot in to the bottom left corner. Marshall gets down well to parry the ball straight in to the path of Tecl, who fails to turn his shot towards an empty goal from inside the six-yard area.

67'

Dykes, who brought Scotland level, is hobbling about and will be replaced by Paterson.

66'

Christie leads a counter-attack and beats two Czech defenders. The winger then loses possession as he overruns the third tackle and drags his opposite man back to concede a free-kick.

64'

Captain Robertson is booked for hoofing the ball away well after the referee had given a free-kick to Czech Republic.

63'

Scotland have scored a penalty in back-to-back matches - as many as in their previous 31 games in all competitions.

62'

The hosts are growing back in to this game and perhaps Scotland know that, as Christie and Palmer slow the game down debating over who is going to take a throw-in.

60'

Havlik takes the free-kick after Pesek has ran over the ball, however, the midfielder can only send his shot wide of the target. If anything, the free-kick was from too close to get the ball up and over the wall from that sort of range.

59'

Scotland are furious as the referee gives a free-kick on the edge of their area. Tecl had latched on to a long ball and had collapsed to the floor after being dragged down by McTominay. The visitors can't have too many complaints with that one on second viewing.

57'

Havlik hovers over a free-kick on the right of Scotland's area. His cross goes in to a great area but Cooper does excellently to head the ball away from Marshall's goal and gets fouled in the process.

55'

Budinsky, who has been quiet throughout the game, is replaced by Breite in the first change of the game.

54'

Ryan Christie has been directly involved in eight goals in his last eight starts for Scotland (3 goals & 5 assists).

52'

GOALLLL! 2-1 SCOTLAND! Mandous dives the right way to his left and looks to have got a hand to Christie's penalty, but despite his best efforts the ball rolls in to the bottom left corner and Scotland take the lead!

51'

Malinsky is booked for his efforts in fouling Robertson for the Scotland penalty.

51'

PENALTY AWARDED! Robertson is too quick for Malinsky and breaks in to the area on the left before being brought down from behind by the Czech winger. The referee is right behind it and deems the tangle of arms and legs to be a Scotland penalty!

50'

CHANCE! Robertson is set free by McLean on the left wing, the Liverpool full-back then pulls his cross back towards the edge of the area and Christie's wicked shot is blocked. That chance looked like it was destined for the goal if Hubnik had not got in the way of it.

48'

Armstrong is late and high on Janos as the two collide when challenging for a throw-in. The Scottish winger is rightfully booked for his challenge.

47'

Zeleny and Tecl exchange a couple of passes, leading the left-back to the byline, however, Palmer's sliding challenge stops the full-back's cross before it can trouble the Scots' defence.

45'

Clarke will feel this is still Scotland's game for the taking. The visitors constantly look a threat down either flank and if the Czechs continue to grant their opponents that sort of space then it may only be a matter of time before the likes of Dykes are provided with another chance. However, the hosts still pose a threat to Scotland on the counter, as Pesek and Malinsky look to exploit space left by Clarke's attacking wing-backs.

46'

Referee Gozubuyuk blows his whistle again and we are underway for the second half.

45'

Holoubek's side started quickly out the traps and deservedly took the lead through Pesek's cool finish. Scotland then found a way back in to the game as Dykes smartly deflected Palmer's cross over Mandous in the Czech goal. In Olomouc, the two sides go in at half-time at 1-1, despite the Czechs fielding an entirely changed starting eleven.

45'

HALF-TIME: CZECH REPUBLIC 1-1 SCOTLAND

44'

Malinsky races down the left wing as the hosts attempt to counter-attack, the winger does well to evade McTominay's challenge but will be disappointed with his right-footed effort that goes well wide of Marshall's goal.

42'

The visitors remain content to manipulate possession from one side of the pitch to the other as they look to draw the Czech defence out. Holes and his fellow defenders continue to defend resolutely, as the right-back wins an aerial challenge against Robertson near the touchline.

40'

SAVE! Fleck fails to intercept a pass in the middle of the park which allows Janos to advance and then strike a right-footed effort from 30 yards out. The midfielder's shot looks to be angling wide of Marshall's left post but the Scotland keeper turns the shot away for a corner nonetheless.

38'

Half a chance for Czech Republic as Zeleny runs on to a throughball on the left before striking with his left-foot, however, Palmer puts his body in the way and the chance results in a corner for the hosts.

36'

Holes sends a right-footed shot high and wide of Marshall's goal, as the keeper watches the ball sail over his head. Janos had done well to find the right-back in space, but the defender's shot was wild and nowhere near the target.

34'

Robertson and Fleck attempt to combine down the left, but the latter is deemed to have pulled back his opponent and the Czechs will have a free-kick in their own half.

33'

Scotland have kept just one clean sheet in their last 10 games in all competitions, a 6-0 victory against San Marino in October 2019 (EURO qualifier).

31'

Czech Republic haven't recreated the same intensity they were playing at within the first ten minutes. Since grabbing their lead, they have sat back and both Scottish wing-backs are receiving far too much room, so it is no surprise the visitors managed to punish them through Palmer and Dykes' combination.

29'

Lyndon Dykes first goal for Scotland came with his first shot for his country (2nd appearance).

27'

A lovely right-footed cross along the floor, placed in between the Czech's defence and keeper, finds Dykes, who had lost his marker in the six-yard area.

27'

GOALL!! 1-1! Palmer is found by McLean wide on the right and Scotland’s wing-back then whips a right-footed cross in to the six-yard area, which Dykes smartly deflects high in to the net from close range with his left foot.

26'

At the other end, Holes clips in a right-footed cross but Budinsky can only head well over the bar from inside Scotland's area.

24'

CHANCE! Palmer dances one way and then the other as he rounds Pesek in the area. The right wing-back then fizzes a shot across Mandous' goal, which the goalkeeper away with his right foot before smartly saving Christie's rebound at his near post.

22'

Hubnik does extremely well to deny Dykes of a shooting opportunity in the six-yard area, stepping in at just the right time to deflect away Robertson's left-footed cross.

21'

Czech Republic have picked up six wins from their last nine fixtures in all competitions (L3), scoring two or more goals on seven occasions in this run.

19'

Robertson thinks he is away down the left wing and plays a chipped cross in to the Czech area, only to look across and realise the assistant has his flag up for offside.

17'

McLean looks to fire a left-footed shot from around 30 yards out, however, his attempt is comfortably blocked by not one, but two diving Czech shirts.

15'

SAVE! Marshall tips the ball around the post after Pesek unleashes a right-footed curling effort from 25 yards out. Initially, it had looked like the Scottish goalkeeper was going to leave it, before realising that the shot was heading for his top right-hand corner.

13'

All the talk before the game had been about how this would still be a challenge for Scotland. This Czech side are proving they are more than up for the fight so far.

12'

Pesek (making his international debut) has scored with the first shot in this game.

11'

Tecl has far too much room as the Scottish defence drop off and he plays a lovely left-footed pass in to the path of Pesek.

11'

GOALLLLL! 1-0 CZECH REPUBLIC! Tecl is afforded too much space outside Scotland's area, allowing him to look up and slide a pass through to Pesek, who is running in to the area, before the winger places the ball in to the bottom left-hand corner.

11'

Scotland won their last away match against Czech Republic in March 2016 (1-0), winning courtesy of Ikechi Anya’s 10th minute strike. The visitors had lost their previous five such matches prior to that win (including games vs Czechoslovakia).

10'

The opening ten minutes have largely been played in Scotland's half as Holoubek encourages his side to play on the front foot. This continual pressure forces Marshall to clear long to Dykes, who is needlessly offside.

8'

Malinsky finds himself in space on the left and runs at the Scots' defence before McKenna makes a sweeping challenge and the hosts have the first corner of the game.

7'

McKenna does well to shelter Malinsky's long pass out for a goal-kick with Tecl in pursuit. The Czechs are looking to pressurise the visitors' back three high up the pitch and force them in to making decisions early doors.

5'

Pesek and Tecl combine to rob Fleck near Scotland's area, however, they fail to capitalise on the chance to break as the latter's pass rolls through to Marshall in goal.

3'

Armstrong looks to break through the middle of the pitch but his progress is halted, cynically, by a Czech midfielder. Scotland will take the free-kick from within their own half.

2'

The Scots get the game underway and immediately it appears Clarke has in fact stuck with a back three, with McTominay filling in the third centre-back role.

1'

Referee Serdar Gozubuyuk blows his whistle to signal the start of proceedings.

-

The players are making their way on to the Andruv Stadion pitch and shortly the game will be underway!

-

Despite disappointing against Israel, the Scots remain unbeaten in four (W3, D1) and will fancy their chances of extending that run against this weakened Czech side.

-

Steve Clarke reverts back to a four-man defence and makes five changes to his side that drew with Israel. Robertson is preferred to Tierney on the left, while Jack, McGregor, McGinn and Forrest also drop out. Fleck wins only his fourth cap and Dykes, who made his debut against Israel, leads the line again.

-

Covid-19 has enforced wholesale changes to the Czech team, including former Slavia Prague coach, David Holoubek, replacing manager Jaroslav Silhavy. Hubnik, who comes out of retirement to captain the side, and Tecl, are the only two with any prior international experience for the hosts.

-

SUBS: Declan Gallagher, James Forrest, Callum McGregor, Robby McCrorie, Kieran Tierney, Greg Taylor, Jon McLaughlin, Ryan Jack, Stephen O’Donnell, Callum Paterson, John McGinn, Oliver Burke.

-

SCOTLAND (4-3-3): David Marshall; Andrew Robertson, Scott McKenna, Liam Cooper, Liam Palmer; Scott McTominay, Kenny McLean, John Fleck; Stuart Armstrong, Lyndon Dykes, Ryan Christie.

-

SUBS: Filip Nguyen, Simon Gabriel, Radim Breite, Roman Potocny, Daniel Holzer, Ondrej Karafiat, Jan Juroska, Jachym Sip, Antonin Rusek, Tomas Solil, Jakub Markovic, Adam Karabec.

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CZECH REPUBLIC (4-2-3-1): Ales Mandous; Jaroslav Zeleny, Vaclav Jemelka, Roman Hubnik, Tomas Holes; Marek Havlik, Adam Janos; Tomas Malinsky, Lukas Budinsky, Jakub Pesek; Stanislav Tecl.

-

On Friday, the hosts kicked off their campaign with a 3-1 win away to Slovakia. Contrastingly, the visitors limped to a 1-1 draw with Israel. Since then, covid-19 has swept through and depleted the Czech squad. The outbreak had led to this fixture being unofficially cancelled (via a Czech FA statement), before UEFA stepped in and confirmed the fixture would go ahead.

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Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Nations League Group B2 game between Czech Republic and Scotland.

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