Austria advance unchecked
Friday, July 18, 2003
Article summary
Austria progressed to the semi-finals with a 4-1 victory over the nine-man Czech Republic in Schaan.
Article body
Group winners
Both Rene Schicker and Roman Kienast struck twice as Paul Gludovatz's side made it two wins out of two and ensured they will progress as Group B winners. The Czechs now have only the faintest hope of qualifying as they sit bottom of the group with a single point - three behind second-placed England who they face in Eschen-Mauren on Sunday.
Bright start
Michal Bílek's side actually began the game brightly and contributed to an open and entertaining first half. They went ahead on ten minutes through a header from Petr Mikolanda but by half-time had lost striker Adam Varadi to a 40th-minute red card and were 3-1 behind. Roman Hubník's dismissal in the second period only salted the wound as by then the Czechs were already 4-1 behind.
Goal rush
Trailing 1-0, Austria drew level on 36 minutes when Schicker collected a centre from Michal Blažej and slotted the ball past Petr Bolek. Two minutes later Kienast headed the Austrians in front before, following Varadi's dismissal, Schicker made it 3-1 with his second goal on the stroke of half-time.
Bolek caught out
The Czechs may have recovered a two-goal deficit against France but there would be no repeat this time. Kienast completed the scoring nine minutes into the second half when he caught Bolek out of position with a shot from distance.