Holland survive Czech scare

Amsterdam, June 11: Skipper Frank de Boer saved Holland’s blushes with an 89th minute penalty to sneak a 1-0 win in their opening Euro 2000 match against the Czech Republic here on Sunday. The co-hosts had made a shaky start to the Group D match with only the woodwork to thank to stop them falling behind in the second half in front of a packed Amsterdam Arena.Pavel Nedved and Jan Koller had both struck the goal frame as the Czechs had the better of the second period only for a needless foul to undo all the good work.

A cross from substitute Marc Overmars did not look particularly dangerous but Jiri Nemec tugged at the shirt of Holland’s Ronald de Boer. Italian referee Pierluigi Collina had no hesitation in awarding the penalty and Ronald’s brother Frank tucked away the penalty to earn a priceless win for the co-hosts. Moments before the end, Czech defender Radoslav Latal, who was already substituted, was given a red card while sitting on the bench. Latal and his colleagues were clearly stunned by the late blow after the Czechs gave the Dutch a footballing lesson in the early part of the second period.

Giant striker Jan Koller had linked up well with Nedved to test Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar before Nedved then headed the ball against the post from a Nemec cross, van der Sar retrieving the ball as it bounced on the line. Then it was Koller’s turn to hit the woodwork with his header clipping the bar after a Karel Poborsky freekick.

The Dutch, with Boudewijn Zenden supporting Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Kluivert in attack, attacked in droves in the first half, but a rejuvenated Czech side were a different side after the interval and could have sneaked the win. Holland’s Marc Overmars failed to make the starting line-up with an injured thigh though he came on late in the second half.