Czechs pip 10-man Dutch in thriller

Czech Republic became the first team to reach the quarter-finals at Euro 2004 after winning one of the all-time classic European Championship matches 3-2 against the Netherlands on Saturday.

The Czechs recovered from two goals down to win a Group D game packed with exhilarating attacking play and brilliant goalkeeping as substitute Vladimir Smicer tucked home the winner in the 88th minute to break Dutch hearts.

The Netherlands finished the match with 10 men after Johnny Heitinga was sent off for a second booking in the 75th minute and the Czechs took advantage by piling on the pressure with Pavel Nedved rattling the bar before Smicer struck.

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The two former winners had produced a series of high speed wave of attacks as they both sought the victory that would put them on course for the quarter-finals after Germany were held to a goalless draw by Latvia earlier in the day. The Dutch went 2-0 up inside 20 minutes with goals by defender Wilfred Bouma and Ruud van Nistelrooy before giant Czech Jan Koller pulled one back to make it 2-1 at the break.

Both sides made countless further chances, the Dutch twice hitting the woodwork, before Milan Baros struck a thunderous equaliser in the 71st minute.

CZECHS THROUGH

The result puts the Czechs through with six points. Germany have two and the Netherlands and Latvia one.

Germany play the Czech Republic and Latvia face the Netherlands in the final games next Wednesday.

The Dutch army of orange-clad fans making up the majority of the 30,000 crowd had barely finished cheering Latvia's draw with Germany when they were on their feet again at the start of what would prove 90 minutes of exhilarating football.

Jan Koller had blasted a close-range volley over the bar after less than two minutes but in the fourth Bouma was left unmarked at the far post to head in Arjen Robben's right wing free kick.

Clarence Seedorf, recalled after missing the 1-1 draw with Germany through injury, then grazed the post with a free kick before Van Nistelrooy made it 2-0 in the 19th minute.

The Dutch striker swept home Robben's low cross from the left having been left alone as he initially jogged back from an offside position.

The Czechs replied four minutes later after Dutch captain Philip Cocu gave the ball away to Milan Baros in the centre circle.

Baros charged towards goal, broke through Jaap Stam's tackle and rolled the ball into the path of Koller to tap in from close range.

EXCELLENT FOOTBALL

The Czechs continued to probe, playing some excellent football but finding the Stam-inspired Dutch defence on top of their game.

The Dutch stormed back, with Heitinga and Seedorf flashing long-range shots just wide before Davids ended the half by rattling the inside of the post with another.

The second half picked up where the first had finished, the opening two minutes producing good chances at both ends, which Dutch keeper Edwin van der Sar and his Czech counterpart Petr Cech both did well to foil.

Cech then beat out a Van Nistelrooy header from point-blank range and Van der Sar matched him by tipping a Smicer shot past the post in the 64th minute.

The keeper was powerless in the 71st minute, however, as Koller chested a long pass into the path of Baros, who slammed the ball home from the edge of the box.

Cech saved brilliantly from Andy van der Meyde a minute later and Van der Sar matched him with a double stop in the 75th, moments after Heitinga was sent off for his second yellow card.

The Czechs went close to a winner when Pavel Nedved thumped a 30-metre right-foot shot against the bar that deserved to win any match but they did not have to wait long before Smicer delivered the killer blow from close range.

Karel Poborsky's cross gave Smicer a simple chance to grab the glory after Van der Sar had pushed out a fierce shot from fellow substitute Marek Heinz.