Jan Kliment fired the Czech Republic to within 90 minutes of the World Cup finals as they broke Republic of Ireland hearts in a dramatic penalty shoot-out to set up a showdown with Denmark.
Substitute Kliment scored the decisive spot-kick at the Fortuna Arena after Finn Azaz and Alan Browne had seen their efforts saved by Matej Kovar to book a clash with the Danes on Tuesday night with a trip to the United States, Canada and Mexico at stake.
Ireland had come within four minutes of victory when Wolves defender Ladislav Krejci headed the hosts level on a night when the visitors had led 2-0 after just 23 minutes to leave them dreaming of a first World Cup adventure since 2002.
Troy Parrott, whose hat-trick in Hungary booked their place in the play-off semi-finals, nervelessly converted a 19th-minute penalty before Kovar’s unfortunate own goal, and it took a 27th-minute spot-kick from Patrik Schick to drag Miroslav Koubek’s men back into it in his first game at the helm.
Skipper Krejci’s intervention took the tie to extra time and it was the Czechs who squeezed through 4-3 on penalties despite Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men producing a performance of real character.
