The Lionesses started the barrage victorious. They take a win from Iceland, the rematch is on Tuesday

Friday evening offered an important national team match in the qualification for the European Under-21 Championship. The Lionesses played the first of two matches on Icelandic soil. How did they do?

In June, the group stage of the Euro U21 qualification ended and the youngsters from the Czech Republic finished second in their group behind first-placed England. They left Slovenia, Kosovo, Albania and Andorra behind.

They have to go through a barrage to qualify for the tournament. In that, they faced Iceland. The latter did not have an easy time in their group, but they fought back and came second. The favourites for the double-header, however, are the lionesses. Moreover, Iceland did not enter the first match with the strongest possible line-up.

The first half did not offer much football, but two goals were scored

However, the game was not marked by that. At the end of the fifth minute, Kryštof Daněk got a great chance after a pass from Václav Sejk, but he narrowly missed the goal and for a long time it was the only opportunity not only for Jan Suchopárek’s charges, but for the whole duel.

The key moment of the first half came in the 25th minute. David Jurásek failed to handle the ball, which was taken advantage of by Iceland’s attacking forward, who after winning the ball fired into the whitewash, where he subsequently hit Jurásek’s arm, which was far from his body.

That meant a penalty kick. Saevar Atli Magnusson took it and converted it with ease. He sent Iceland into a 1:0 lead. It also raised hopes that perhaps more attractive football could be played. And fortunately, it did.

The Czech team stepped up their efforts and forced the Icelanders to play at a slightly higher tempo. And the increased effort paid off in the 33rd minute. After a nice combination action, Matěj Valenta sent the ball into the Icelandic goal.

Further chances were hampered by unnecessary inaccuracies on both sides. However, shortly before the end of the first 45 minutes, Suchopárek’s charges could have taken the lead. However, Sejk missed a great opportunity after an interesting signal.

Second half

Unfortunately, the end of the first half could not be followed up in the second act. However, the intensity gradually increased, which only benefited the match. However, as it was the case in the first 45 minutes, there were a lot of inaccuracies.

What the Czech spectators could enjoy, however, was the fact that the lionesses slowly started to outplay the northerners. Whether it was possession of the ball or trying to create chances. And in the 70th minute, the superiority finally turned into a goal.

Gabriel’s pass into the hexagon was not used by Daniel Fila, but Lukáš Červ’s activity started another quick attack, and what Fila couldn’t do after Gabriel’s centre, Sejk managed to do, sending the ball into the net with his head and adjusting the score to 2:1.

After the goal, the Icelanders picked up the pace. They started to attack more and push forward, but to no avail. The Czech Republic’s defence was reliable and confident. And when it wasn’t, Icelandic inaccuracy saved the day.

Only at the very end of the game the northerners had a great chance to equalize, but fortunately for the lionesses Magnusson’s shot did not go through the crowded wall of bodies.

The Czech Republic got a hopeful result for the rematch. It will be played on Tuesday in České Budějovice.

Line-ups:

Iceland::

Valdimarsson – Thornalsson, Fridriksson (65. Omarsson), Olafsson, Thorkelsson, Barkarson (87. Ulfarsson) – Thordason (79. Andrason), Baldursson, Magnusson – Thorvaldsson (65. Bjarkason), Willumsson (88. Oskarsson)

Czech Republic:

Kovář – Gabriel, Vitík, Hranáč, D. Jurásek – Žambůrek, Červ – Daněk (75. Souček), Valenta (81. Kaloč), Sejk (90+4. Knapík) – Fila (81. M. Jurásek)

Source: UEFA