Northern Ireland had what would have been a famous result snatched from their grasp with just three minutes remaining. For 87 minutes Sammy McIlroy's makeshift side, which was missing ten players, had harried and frustrated the Czech Republic. However, just when it seemed Philip Mulryne's equaliser on the stroke of half-time would be enough to earn Northern Ireland a memorable draw, the Czechs landed the killer blow. Pavel Kuka scored and with Northern Ireland reeling, substitute Milan Baros added a third a minute from time.
Northern Ireland deserved better than this after a giving a dogged display, which belied the 94 places in the FIFA world rankings which separate the sides. McIlroy could not have asked for more and as he spoke to his players in the centre circle after the game, the devastation on every one of their faces was obvious.
McIlroy admitted that he was dreading the game following Saturday's defeat against Bulgaria. "Before the game everyone was thinking `oh God, what is going to happen?' I thought that myself and I didn't sleep last night thinking about what could happen. But our plan to frustrate the Czechs nearly worked and I have nothing but praise for my boys," he said.
The Northern Ireland manager was upset that the Czechs' opening goal from Kuka was allowed, even though Czech coach Jozef Chovanec agreed that he had been at least a yard offside. "The manager of the Czech side came up to me and said sorry for the first goal. We knew it was at least a yard offside and everyone knew that, but that's the way it goes," said McIlroy. Although this defeat is Northern Ireland's sixth in succession under McIlroy, this was a gutsy performance from a makeshift side which deserved a better outcome.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
