England are left stunned as Czechs bounce back to win
ENGLAND fell to their first qualifying defeat in a decade as debutant Zdenek Ondrasek secured the Czech Republic a deserved 2-1 victory against Gareth Southgate’s stuttering side.
The Three Lions arrived in Prague knowing victory would assure progress to Euro 2020 with three matches to spare.
Expectation grew with Harry Kane’s early spot-kick, only for Jakub Brabec to quickly bring the Czech Republic level and provide the platform for substitute Ondrasek to punish a ponderous England performance and seal a shock win.
It ended a 43-match unbeaten run in Euro and World Cup qualifying matches stretching to a 1-0 loss in Ukraine in October 2009 - and was a result England could hardly argue with.
Gareth Southgate felt the result was reflective of his team’s performance.
“Tonight we didn’t do enough to win the game,” the manager told ITV.
“Our performance wasn’t good enough, simple as that. We probably should have got a draw out of it, but in the end the goal we conceded was typical of the chances we gave away throughout the night.
“There are things we can look back on, but collectively we have to accept that there weren’t enough good performances.”
Harry Kane felt his side paid the price for not capitalising on opportunities to regain the lead.
“We went ahead early, it was the perfect start to an away game,” he told ITV.
“But after that we were sloppy with the ball. They obviously scored not long after and we didn’t move it as quickly as we normally do.
“We weren’t fighting, we weren’t pressing as much as we normally do. In the second half (we were) a little bit better, we had a couple of chances to put the game to bed and we didn’t.”
Southgate handed Mason Mount his first international start, but he resisted too much experimentation in Prague, where it looked like this would be another cakewalk after Raheem Sterling raced through and cut back to draw a challenge from Lukas Masopust.
Referee Damir Skomina pointed to the spot and Kane sent Tomas Vaclik the wrong way in the fifth minute.
But four minutes later Jakub Jankto swung in a corner and Ondrej Celustka directed it on for Brabec, who bundled home at the far post to send the Sinobo Stadium crowd wild.
Jan Boril saw a hopeful effort denied by Pickford and Masopust dragged horribly wide as Southgate’s men struggled to get a hold on proceedings, with a blocked Kane effort the best they could muster as the welcome respite of a half-time break approached.
Vladimir Darida and Soucek tried their luck when play resumed against an England side unable to show their undoubted attacking ability until a quick passing move got Sterling behind the Czech defence, only for Vaclik to smartly deny the attempt to round him.
It was a clever stop followed by a fine save at the other end as Masopust struck from outside the box, forcing Pickford to tip over in eye-catching fashion.
Jordan Henderson saw a bobbling attempt saved as England’s inability to take control of the match clearly began to grate on players, with Sterling booked for his angry protest when he realised an attack had long been halted for a foul.
Pickford denied Alex Kral at his near post and Kane was thwarted by Vaclik as both sides pushed for a decider.
A winner would arrive in the 85th minute as the Czechs capitalised on over-elaborate England play at the back.
Pickford’s clipped pass was picked off and Masopust burst down the right before cutting back for sub Ondrasek to sweeping home a famous winner for the hosts.