Qualifying round - 08 September 2007 20:15 CET (20:15 local time)
Olimpico - Serravalle
San Marino0 - 3Czech Republic
Rosický 33, Jankulovski 75, Koller 90+ 3
Referee: Dejan Filipović (SRB)
Assistant referee: Igor Radojčić (SRB) Borislav Kasanski (SRB) Fourth official: Dragomir Stanković (SRB) UEFA Delegate: Patrick Comninos (GRE) UEFA Referee observer: Marcello Nicchi (ITA)
Saturday 8 September 2007
Hard work pays off for Czechs

The Czech Republic picked up the expected win in San Marino which consolidated second place in UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group D but they were made to work by their hosts.

Victory earned
Tomáš Rosický scrambled in the opening goal but Marek Jankulovski and Jan Koller only settled matters in the second half after Alessandro Della Valle had been sent off for San Marino. The Czech Republic remain five points behind Germany but Slovakia's late equaliser against the Republic of Ireland leaves Karel Brückner's side with a three-point cushion over the team they welcome to Prague on Wednesday.

Czechs ahead
San Marino almost took a shock lead on two minutes when Petr Čech was forced to save by Carlo Valentini, and Andy Selva made the Chelsea FC goalkeeper work soon after. The visitors counterattacked and won a corner which Rosický sent on to the head of Koller but San Marino keeper Aldo Simoncini cleared the danger. Fabio Bollini then became the next player to test Čech, before Sammarinese dreams of a first UEFA European Championship point began to fade. Simoncini denied Marek Kulič and Martin Fenin, yet was finally beaten on 33 minutes when he got a fist to a Kulič effort only to see Rosický head in.

Points secured
The Czech Republic pushed for a second goal after the break and Koller nodded over before David Jarolím shot straight at Simoncini. Their task was made easier when Della Valle was shown a yellow card for a foul, then immediately booked again for dissent on 64 minutes. San Marino eventually succumbed once more when Jankulovski fired in a free-kick with 15 minutes remaining. Koller headed in a late third from substitute Stanislav Vlček's cross and a victory against Ireland in midweek would leave the Czech Republic within sight of the finals.

Events

Min.EventNoPlayer NameTeam
31Yellow card5Alessandro Della ValleSan Marino
33Goals10Tomáš RosickýCzech Republic
52Yellow card4Davide SimonciniSan Marino
56Substitution18
11
Marek Kulič (out)
Stanislav Vlček (in)
Czech Republic
58Substitution8
13
Fabio Bollini (out)
Matteo Andreini (in)
San Marino
61Yellow card9Jan KollerCzech Republic
65Red card5Alessandro Della ValleSan Marino
65Yellow card5Alessandro Della ValleSan Marino
67Substitution7
18
Matteo Bugli (out)
Fabio Vitaioli (in)
San Marino
69Substitution14
3
David Jarolím (out)
Jan Polák (in)
Czech Republic
75Goals6Marek JankulovskiCzech Republic
82Substitution4
20
Tomáš Galásek (out)
Jaroslav Plašil (in)
Czech Republic
85Substitution6
16
Gianluca Bollini (out)
Paolo Mariotti (in)
San Marino
90+3Goals9Jan KollerCzech Republic
GoalsGoalsOwn goalOwn goalPenaltiesPenaltiesMissed penaltyMissed penalty
Yellow cardYellow cardRed cardRed cardSubstitutionSubstitution

Statistics

San Marino

NoPlayer NameMin.GlsSPSCSTSWFCFSOFASYCRC
1Aldo Simoncini90-----------
2Carlo Valentini90---1-12----
3Damiano Vannucci90------2----
4Davide Simoncini90-----31--1-
5Alessandro Della Valle65-----42--21
6Gianluca Bollini85-----21----
7Matteo Bugli67------1----
8Fabio Bollini58---1--1----
9Manuel Marani90----112----
10Andy Selva90---1-131---
11Giovanni Bonini90-----31----
Substitutes
12Federico Valentini------------
13Matteo Andreini32-----------
14Giacomo Benedettini------------
15Nicola Ciacci------------
16Paolo Mariotti5------1----
17Federico Nanni------------
18Fabio Vitaioli23-----1-----

Czech Republic

NoPlayer NameMin.GlsSPSCSTSWFCFSOFASYCRC
1Petr Čech90-----------
21Tomáš Ujfaluši90---112-----
22David Rozehnal90---1221----
5Radoslav Kováč90-----41----
6Marek Jankulovski901--11-2----
4Tomáš Galásek82-----1-----
10Tomáš Rosický901-----2----
14David Jarolím69---1--21---
18Marek Kulič56---2-------
8Martin Fenin90---1114----
9Jan Koller901-122534-1-
Substitutes
23Martin Vaniak------------
12Zdeněk Pospěch------------
20Jaroslav Plašil8----1------
3Jan Polák21-----1-----
7Tomáš Sivok------------
11Stanislav Vlček34-----11-1--
17Libor Sionko------------

Teams Statistics

San MarinoCzech Republic
0Goals scored3
3Yellow card1
1Red card0
3Shots on goal12
1Shots wide8
16Fouls committed17
3Corners13
1Offsides5
49'30''Ball. Poss. (time)40'30''
55%Ball. Poss. (%)45%
Gls:
Goals scored
SP:
Shots hitting post
SC:
Shots hitting bar
ST:
Shots on target
SW:
Shots wide
FC:
Fouls committed
FS:
Fouls suffered
OF:
Offside
AS:
Assists
YC:
Yellow cards
RC:
Red cards