Czechs close in on play-off place

The Czech Republic closed within a point of securing a UEFA European Under-21 championship play-off berth after five second-half goals helped them to a comprehensive victory against ten-man Armenia in Uherske Hradiste.

Papadopulos double
The home side held a tentative one-goal lead approaching the final half-hour, courtesy of Michal Papadopulos' 16th-minute strike, but ultimately sealed the three points in some style. The FC Baník Ostrava striker scored again and goals from Roman Bednar, David Limberskũ, and a late double from substitute Tomáš Jirsák helped the Czechs take over at the top of Group 1.

Stubborn resistance
The late goals gave the scoreline a decidedly one-sided look but for a long time the visitors looked on course to better the 4-0 result in the reverse fixture in October. The Czech Republic had just Papadopulos's early strike to show for their dominance before he added a second on 59 minutes, finally ending goalkeeper Artur Haruytunyan's resistance.

Quick-fire goals
The second goal opened the floodgates and from then on it was one-way traffic as VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach's Václav Sverkos, returning from suspension, took a grip on the game. Bednar added a third soon after and Armenia's slender hopes of containing the home side were all but ended when Rafael Safaryan was dismissed in the 63rd minute.

Immediate impact
It took just one minute for the Czechs to profit from the numerical advantage as Limberskũ made it four, before Škorpil brought on a number of substitutes. One replacement, FK Teplice's Jirsák, soon made an impact, scoring two late goals as the Czech Republic sealed a 6-0 win which takes them a point clear of Netherlands. A draw against the Dutch in their next outing on 7 October will therefore be enough to earn a play-off place.