The under-20 national team finished the match program for this calendar year with a 1:1 draw in Portugal. The Czech team sent Filip Špatenka into the lead, the hosts equalized in the ninth minute of the set time thanks to substitute Varel.
On Friday, the under-20 national team recorded its first victory since March last year, when it won 1:0 in Switzerland thanks to a goal by Tom Slončík. And she also wanted to follow up on the successful first November match in Monday’s duel in Portugal.
The coaches had to make one change in the original starting eleven, when Lukáš Ambrose was replaced by Filip Špatenka. And just before the end of the first half, the offensive player of Dukla Prague scored the leading goal of the Czech team.
Shortly after the change of sides, the home footballers had a chance, but goalkeeper Kubný was able to save the shot from close range after a back pass with a reflexive save at the front post.
In the fifty-ninth minute, Alexander Bužek shot from behind the goal with his left foot after a tap from Slončík, but the goalkeeper Fernandes made a swift jump to the post.
Ten minutes later, Bužek pushed the ball through the goal to Vojta, who was alone in front of the goalkeeper, but the Portuguese goalkeeper caught it from close range. In the 85th minute, goalkeeper Kubný showed himself again, making an excellent save against a Mendonca shot inside the penalty area.
In the ninetieth minute, substitute Varela shot just past the post of the Czech goal. In the sixth minute of the set time after the standard situation, goalkeeper Kubný was able to neutralize another chance, but in the end it was not enough to win. The home team finally managed to equalize in the ninth minute of the set time, when substitute Varela headed home.
“From the beginning of the match, we were able to put the opponent under pressure by attacking very well. We created several chances, especially with a very good pressing. We were rewarded for our activity with a goal before half-time and we deservedly took the lead. The second half was still played in the same spirit. The opponent was only angry after our losses and unfortunately we did not score the second goal from promising opportunities in the ninth minute of the set time, even though the referee originally set it for six minutes. We didn’t manage this match mainly because of not converting our big chances. The players gave a confident and courageous performance and executed the tactics well.” said coach Pavel Šustr after the match.
International preparatory match
Portugal 20 – Czech Republic 20 1:1 (0:1)
Branka: 90.+9 Varela – 45. Spatenka. ŽK: Hunal, Preserved, Labík. Referee: Ribeiro – Silva, Costa.
Portugal: Fernandes – Gomes (67. Noro), Barroso (67. Santos), Junior (75. Alves), Oliveira (46. Mendonca), Rodrigues (75. Arreiol), Dias (46. Andrade), Veloso (46. Goncalves) , Costa (67. Varela), Couto (46. Rodrigues), Semedo (46. Ribeiro). Train: Oceano Cruz.
Czechia: Kubný – Trédl (62. Labík), Hunal, Čoudek (83. Ševínský), Zachoval – Planka (62. Male), Bužek (77. Kukučka) – Šancl, Slončík (75. Aries), Špatenka (62. Míšek) – Vojta (83. Šiler). Coach: Pavel Šustr.
