Euro 2020 Czech punch holes in sour Orange to reach quarterfinals

Underdogs Czech Republic stunned 10-man Netherlands 2-0 on Sunday evening to qualify for the Euro 2020 quarter-final stage.

Tomas Holes and Patrick Schick scored in the second half to book Czech the ticket to the last-eight where they date Denmark.

Netherlands went into the round-of-16 Euro 2020 match at the Ferenc Puskas Stadium in Budapest, Hungary, as overwhemling favourites.

After all, Holland were in form as they had swept aside group stage opposition with frightening ease.

And during the match, all seemed to be going according to script for the highly fancied Orange.

Netherlands attacked through stars such as Memphis Depay while the Czech defended solidly until the first-hand ended goalless.

However, all the Netherlands’ hard work was undone by Juventus defender De Light’s moment of madness.

The highly rated centre-back fouled  a Czech player to a earn a straight red card in the 54th minute.

With the numerical advantage at their disposal, Czech grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck as they bossed play.

Little wonder, when a corner kick was whipped from the right wing above the defence, a Czech player headed the ball from the back post across the goal mouth.

From there Holes, drilled holes into Holland defence to score with a low shot via the near post in the 68th minute.

The goal came minutes after some desperate defending and blocks had denied the Czech from scoring.

Some eleven minutes later, Czech put the game to bed when goalkeeper Vaclik sent a long ball forward.

Some three passes later in a blistering counterattack saw a Czech player intercept a pass which Wijnaldum and his team-mate had aimed to cut.

Thereafter, Schick was left with a simple task of tapping the ball into the net.

It was game over as Czech proceed into the quarterfinals and Netherlands are going home. Once again for the unlucky Orange.

Confirmed line-ups:

Netherlands: Stekelenburg; De Vrij, De Ligt, Blind; Dumfries, De Roon, F de Jong, Wijnaldum, Van Aanholt; Malen, Memphis

Czech Republic: Vaclik, Coufal, Celustka, Kalas, Kaderabek; Holes, Soucek; Sevcik, Barak, Masopust; Schick


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