10-man Greece Under-21’s held in Czech Republic
UEFA U21 EURO 2021 QUALIFYING - GROUP 4 (MATCHDAY 3)
Greece’s Under-21 side dropped their first points in their Euro 2021 qualifying campaign on Sunday after clinging on for a 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic at the Mestský stadion in Karvina despite playing for over an hour with 10 players following the sending off of defender Kostas Dimitriou.
Watch LIVE GREEK TV including full GREEK SPORTS coverage with Go Greek TV!
Dimitriou was dismissed for a professional foul after just 24 minutes, but Panathinaikos star Giannis Bouzoukis still put Giannis Goumas’ team ahead on the stroke of half-time from the penalty spot.
The home side piled on the pressure in the second half, however, the Czech’s only managed to pull level in the 76th minute through Adam Hlozek’s strike, and Greece hung on to claim a point.
The result means Greece are level on seven points with Scotland but they still lead Group 4 on goal difference. The Czechs lie third with four points having played a game less.
THE MATCH
The home side started brightest and pressed the Greeks back into their own half looking for an early goal. Greece’s well-drilled defense managed to repel the Czech threat, but just as it seemed the visitors had weathered the storm, they were dealt a major blow in the 24th minute.
Dimitriou fouled the Czech No. 10 Ondrej Sasinka as he attempted to race clear on goal, and as the last defender the Greek No. 14 was shown a red card by Danish referee Jørgen Burchardt.
That gave Karel Krejčí’s side a huge advantage with the score still at 0-0 at that point, but Greece responded well with the players battling for every ball and trying to close down the spaces that the extra man created.
Then in the first minute of time added on for stoppages at the end of the first half, Greece fashioned a goal out of nothing. Georgios Daviotis did well to drive into the penalty area and his run was ended illegally by Daniel Souček, who conceded a penalty for his challenge.
Bouzoukis stepped up to slot home the spot-kick confidently from 12 yards as Greece took the lead against the odds.
The second half saw the home side dominate proceedings but without creating a great deal of clear scoring chances as Greece defended manfully for long spells.
Jan Matousek came close to equalising for the home side in the 49th minute, but his header flew just wide as the visitors continued to defend desperately.
Their resistance was finally broken 14 minutes from time when Michal Sadilek’s corner was headed home by Hlozek.
The Czechs were camped inside Greece’s final third and controlled virtually all of the possession in the closing stages, but they could not find a winning goal and Greece remain unbeaten after three matches.
STARTING LINEUPS
Czech Republic: Jedlička (GK), 3 Chaluš, 4 Holík, 5 Plechatý, 6 Sadílek, 7 Bucha, 10 Sašinka, 15 Souček, 17 Matoušek, 20 Hložek, 22 Vaníček
Greece: 1 Siampanis (GK), 2 Natsos, 3 Katranis, 4 Nikolaou, 6 Retsos, 7 Daviotis, 8 Balogiannis, 9 Douvikas, 10 Bouzoukis, 11 Kampetsis, 14 Dimitriou
GROUP 4 STANDINGS
Greece 3 MP, 7 points
Scotland 3 MP, 7 points
Czech Republic 2 MP, 4 points
Lithuania 4 MP, 4 points
Croatia 1 MP, 0 points
San Marino 3 MP, 0 points
