Czech Republic ease past Greece

Tomáš Pekhart and Libor Kozák were on target as the Czech Republic eased into the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals at Greece's expense.

Three goals down from the first leg, Georgios Georgiadis's team fell further behind on 19 minutes, Pekhart scoring his ninth goal in six qualifying appearances. Kozák increased the lead 11 minutes from time, while late on substitute Aristeidis Soiledis capped a disappointing play-off second leg for the hosts by receiving his second booking in quick succession.

Having taken a grip of proceedings early on thanks to their midfield trio of Tomáš Hořava, Jan Morávek and Bořek Dočkal, the visitors gave Greece a mountain to climb when Pekhart headed in the latter's right-wing cross. Morávek might have added to the lead before half-time only to nod wide Lukáš Vácha's inviting delivery.

Greece briefly threatened a response on the night, if not the tie, before the hour when Stefanos Athanasiadis was thwarted twice in a minute by goalkeeper Tomáš Vaclík. Kozák, however, made it 5-0 on aggregate eight minutes after replacing Pekhart, the S.S. Lazio striker eluding Dimitrios Siovas outside the area and powering a right-footed shot past Kyriakos Stratilatis.