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Koller cheer for Czechs

Wednesday, 13 October 2004

[1] The Czech Republic completed their second 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying win in four days with a comfortable 3-0 victory away to bottom side Armenia in Yerevan. Two goals from BV Borussia Dortmund striker Jan Koller and a superb long-range Tomáš Rosický effort gave the visitors three Group 1 points in a game they never looked like losing.

Koller handful

[2] Koller, who proved a handful for the Armenia defence throughout, nearly put the Czech Republic ahead in the first minute but his shot was cleared off the line. Just two minutes later, however, the giant forward made no mistake when left unmarked to head in Marek Heinz's free-kick.

Manucharyan denied

[3] That early setback sparked Armenia into life and they began to look threatening on the counterattack. In the eleventh minute Edgar Manucharyan got behind the Czech defence only to see his fierce shot bounce off the top of the crossbar, and then had a strike disallowed for offside a minute later.

Rosický brilliance

[4] That was as good as the first half got for Armenia and they were left stunned by a brilliant second goal from Rosický in the 31st minute. The midfield player burst through the Armenia defence and unleashed a powerful shot from 25 metres that flew into the top corner of the net and left goalkeeper Edel Bete clutching at air.

Bete saves

[5] The second half was dominated by the Czechs and only some superb goalkeeping from Bete kept the scoreline down. In the 49th minute he tipped over a Koller shot, then just a minute later somehow got his fingertips to a Libor Sionko strike when it seemed certain the Czech midfield player would score his side's third.

Koller's second

[6] Koller squandered further chances to extend the visitors' lead, but he finally added his second, and the Czech Republic's third, in the 76th minute when his well-placed shot eluded Bete after substitute Jirí Jarošik's pass had breached the Armenia defence.

Manucharyan over

[7] Armenia's best chance of the second half fell to Manucharyan, but his 82nd-minute effort flew just over Cech's crossbar. The Czechs played out a comfortable win, however, to climb back into contention in the group with six points from three matches and next visit F.Y.R. Macedonia on 17 November. Armenia remained bottom without a point after four games and are at home to Romania the same day.

Jan Koller scored twice for the Czech Republic