Ireland stun Czechs

Kevin Kilbane of lreland(L) duels Martin Jiranek of the Czech Republic during their friendly match at Lansdown Road stadium in Dublin

Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane hit an injury-time winner to bring a crashing end to the Czech Republic 20-match unbeaten run.

The home side appeared to have let victory slip late in the second half when they allowed Milan Baros to equalize Ian Harte's opening strike, but some slack defending by the visitors allowed Keane to plunder a sensational winner in an entertaining friendly which finished 2-1.

Czech manager Karel Bruckner had not tasted defeat since taking charge of his country two years ago, and there appeared little threat of that in a first half that was almost totally devoid of goalmouth action.

The match burst to life in the second period, however, as the Irish tore straight into their opponents.

Substitute goalkeeper Marek Vaniak was called into action immediately as he dived to his right to parry a powerful 25-yard drive from Keane.

From the resultant corner, Gary Doherty soared above Rene Bolf to head the ball against the butt of the post.

In the 52nd minute, Brian Kerr's men broke the deadlock.

Bolf conceded a free-kick on the edge of the area, and the six-man wall could not prevent Harte from hammering the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

That strike sprung the Czechs out of their subdued mood, and they quickly showed why they are considered one of the favourites for the forthcoming European Championships as they pieced together a succession of intricate moves.

Indeed, just five minutes after scoring, Harte was called upon to clear a spanking Roman Tyce drive off his own line.

Baros eventually drew the sides level in the 83rd minute, after Irish defenders, anticipating an offside flag, stalled and allowed the Liverpool man to latch on to Jankulowski's long pass and stroke the ball past Shay Given in the home goal.

Both sides took turns attacking in the closing minutes, and Irish substitute Rory Delap thought he had created the winner, only for the Danish referee to judge that his throw-in had gone into the net directly rather than via the head of Alan Lee.

The Irish did, however, eventually strike glory.

As time ticked away, Lee beat a sluggish Czech defence to an apparently innocuous ball down the right. His cross was weak, but Keane reacted smartly to connect with it, and turned his right-foot shot past Vaniak for a dramatic winner.