Gerčák heroics take Czechs through

Second-string goalkeeper Libor Gerčák was the hero as the Czech Republic beat Italy on penalties to reach the UEFA European Futsal Championship semi-finals after a tremendous struggle in Debrecen.

Shoot-out success
Italy led 2-1 at the break but two Czech goals seemed to have turned the game only for Saad Assis to equalise. In the shoot-out, Gerčák − preferred to Tomáš Meller for this game − saved Italy's first three penalties and his side, in only their second semi-final, now go on to face Spain or Russia here on Thursday.

Italy ahead
Although Czech captain Martín Dlouhý went close after eight seconds, Italy were on top initially. Luca Ippoliti and Assis both shot wide and Vinicius Duarte was denied by Gerčák. Duarte was on the scoresheet in the sixth minute, though, robbing Zdenek Sláma inside the Czech box and smashing the ball in.

Fine goals
The Czech Republic came back from 4-0 down to defeat Hungary and again they responded well, Lukáš Rešetár making Alexandre Feller dive to stop a fine drive and not long afterwards David Frič found Marek Kopecký on the halfway line and he advanced to shoot in from 15 metres. The 2007 runners-up were now pegged back but when Italy did attack, Vinicius Bácaro, with little room in the box, struck the post. It seemed the half would finish level only for the best strike combination in the finals to team up again; Assis found Clayton Bapistella, who rolled the ball back to his advancing team-mate to produce a blistering finish for his fourth goal of the finals.

Czech comeback
It was a bright start to the second half and Jiří Novotný had to be alert to head an angled Assis chip off the line. Seconds later Sláma cut in from the left and his shot to the far post gave Feller no chance. The Czech Republic then took the lead in bizarre fashion; Frič's shot hit the post but rebounded into the net off the shocked Duarte. Italy now pushed hard and Gerčák pushed a Bácaro shot wide and the goalkeeper also brilliantly denied Assis and Baptistella.

Frantic finish
However, he was powerless to stop Assis turning and slotting the ball inside his near post to equalise. A frantic finish now followed and, just as in their defeat of Hungary, coach Tomáš Neumann gambled on Frič as a flying goalkeeper and it nearly paid off when Kopecký hit the post. However, a penalty shoot-out it was and Gerčák saved Italy's first three efforts from Assis, Bácaro and Patrick Nora before Rešetár was denied by Feller but Frič converted the winner. Kopecký will be suspended for the semi-final.