Path D of these European WC play-offs concocted an intriguing semi-final showdown between two nations that had made just one appearance each on football’s biggest stage this century.
Perhaps buoyed by a dramatic win over Hungary in their final group game, it was Ireland who began the brighter of the two sides. Skipper Nathan Collins saw his deflected shot cannon off the bar, before he headed wide from Finn Azaz’s subsequent corner.
They were rewarded for that fast start when referee Glenn Nyberg pointed to the spot after Vladimir Darida was penalised for kicking Collins’ raised leg in the box. Troy Parrot fired the resulting penalty past Matej Kovar, despite the Czech shot-stopper diving the right way.
Those travelling Ireland fans were celebrating again just five minutes later, as Ryan Manning’s corner caused carnage in the box and eventually resulted in Vladimir Coufal’s attempted clearance rebounding off the woodwork and Kovář before crossing the line.
However, this pulsating first half would take another twist when Manning was penalised for pulling back Ladislav Krejčí in the box for a stonewall penalty. Patrik Schick made no mistake from 12 yards, converting past a wrong-footed Caoimhin Kelleher to halve the deficit heading into half-time.
Jayson Molumby came within inches of extending Ireland’s lead after the restart when his long-range effort bounced off the post, but it was the hosts asking most of the questions.
Miroslav Koubek’s side were taking a direct approach in their bid to restore parity, as Krejčí’s header from Coufal’s searching cross was parried over by Kelleher.
Fortunately for the Boys in Green, the Czechs were struggling to build much momentum, and Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men threatened a sucker punch to rubber-stamp their position in the final, but Kovar was on hand to make a fine save to push away Parrott’s header from Dara O’Shea’s headed flick on.
A sucker punch would come, but it was the Czechs who provided it. Krejci was named captain of his national side earlier in the week, and marked a momentous week in his career with a fine glancing header at the near post from Michal Sadílek’s corner to take this absorbing contest into extra time.
All of the impetus was now with Koubek’s team, and Tomas Soucek should have completed the turnaround when he blazed a close-range attempt over the bar from Adam Karabec's cross. Irish nerves were then shredded further before a VAR review ultimately determined Molumby's handball from Schick’s shot was just outside the box.
There were worrying scenes as extra time came to a close, with Sammie Szmodics stretchered off after a nasty collision with Stepan Chaloupek. Penalties ensued, and after a saved spot-kick each, Kovar denied Alan Browne, and Jan Kliment fired home the decisive penalty to send the hosts through after a 4-3 shootout victory.
They can now look forward to playing Denmark on Tuesday, where a victory would see them become the first team to represent the Czechs on a global stage since one featuring the likes of Petr Cech, Tomas Rosicky, and Pavel Nedved 20 years ago.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ladislav Krejci (Czech Republic)
