Czechs canter to emphatic victory

Vratislav Lokvenc started and finished an emphatic 8-1 win for the Czech Republic against Andorra as the side continue to press for a spot at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, in a match in which team-mate Jan Koller become the highest ever Czech goalscorer in international football.

Ruiz dismissal
Lokvenc opened the scoring at the U Nisy stadium in Liberec on 13 minutes, before goals from Koller and Vladimír Šmicer gave the home side a 3-1 half-time lead. Tomáš Galásek made it four from the penalty spot on 52 minutes and Andorra's plight was worsened by Justo Ruíz's dismissal just past the hour. Milan Baroš, Tomáš Rosický and Jan Polák all then found the target before Lokvenc rounded off a one-sided encounter.

Milestone strike
Lokvenc also scored in the reverse Group 1 fixture in Andorra la Vella in March, a match the Czechs won 4-0, and set his side on course for another emphatic win tonight when he headed in Zdenek Grygera's early cross. Koller doubled the lead just before the half-hour mark with another header, which took him alongside Czechoslovakia-era striker Antonín Puc on 35 international goals.

Riera consolation
Gabriel Riera gave the home side some cause for concern when he reduced the deficit on 35 minutes after capitalising on a mistake from David Rozehnal. Fresh from Liverpool FC's recent UEFA Champions League triumph, Šmicer restored the two-goal cushion just three minutes later, slotting in Karel Poborský's pinpoint pass.

Galásek goal
Galásek made it 4-1 with his first ever international goal after the interval and after Ruíz received a second yellow card for simulation on 63 minutes, it was all one-way traffic. Baroš converted from close range on 80 minutes to trigger off a late scoring spree from the home side. First Rosický converted another spot-kick, before Polák scored with a stunning 25-metre drive.

F.Y. R. Macedonia test
Lokvenc then wrapped things up in added time, as the Czechs remianed within one point of the Netherlands at the top of Group 1, after the Dutch defeated Romania tonight to leave Victor Piturca's side five points off second place. The Czech Republic face F.Y.R. Macedonia in Teplice on Wednesday while Andorra, who are still rooted to the foot of the section, are next in action in August.