Czechs take play-off chance

The Czech Republic will take part in the UEFA Women's Championship qualifying play-offs after a comfortable win against Ukraine.

Coach's delight
Pavlina Scasna scored twice and Katerina Doskova and Blanka Penickova added the other goals to ensure the Czech, who cannot catch Group 4 winners Germany in the face for automatic qualification, second place in the pool and a two-legged tie this autumn for one of the remaining places in the England-hosted finals next summer. Czech coach Dusan Zovinec admitted: "Our original task was only to avoid relegation."

Czechs ahead
It seemed Ukraine, who needed victory to keep their qualification hopes alive having already ensured they would not face a relegation play-off, would be ahead on four minutes when the gained a penalty for handball. But Olena Mazurenkova missed the spot-kick and within 60 seconds the Czechs had a penalty of their own which Scansa converted.

Solo goals
FC Bayern München-based Scansa added the second in the 63rd minute with a superb solo effort. Doskova scored in similar style 17 minutes later, but although Ukraine had Natalja Zidanovova and Ludmila Pekurova sent off, they pulled one back through Tatjana Verezubova.

Win sealed
However, in added time Penickova curled a free-kick into the net to seal the win. The Czechs return to action on 6 September against Scotland, who will be looking for a victory to keep alive their hopes of being one of the two third-placed teams in the four championship groups to enter the play-offs, which will definitely contain today's victors and Iceland.