Last-gasp goal ends Czech dream

Richard Sukuta-Pasu struck after 119 minutes of a gripping contest to send Germany into the UEFA European Under-19 Championship final as 2-1 victors against a brave Czech Republic side.

Deadlock
The Germany substitute raced clear to smash in the winning goal in Mlada Boleslav and finally end home hopes at the Mestský Stadion. The Czech Republic had fallen behind to Marcel Risse's goal but rallied marvellously after Tomáš Necid's equaliser.

Advantage Germany
Benefiting from Czech nerves, Germany dominated early on. Deniz Naki fed Savio Nsereko – banned for the final after collecting a 120th-minute booking – down the inside-left channel and he cut inside Radim Řezník before rolling a shot just the safe side of Tomáš Vaclík's post. Timo Gebhart broke down the right to cross for Dennis Diekmeier, but he lost possession in the six-metre box. A goal might not have been coming, but one arrived after 17 minutes. Risse collected a half-cleared ball on the Germany right and advanced a few strides before hitting a low diagonal shot towards Vaclík's near post which the keeper could only help into his net.

Equaliser
With wingers Risse and Nsereko supporting forwards Naki and Gebhart, Germany's control appeared total; except it was not. Necid equalised with the hosts' first attempt after 24 minutes. The centre-forward looped a header beyond keeper Ron-Robert Zieler from Lukáš Mareček's right-sided free-kick for his fourth finals goal. After much coughing and spluttering by their team, the 5,000-strong crowd found its voice.

Ebb and flow
With twins Lars and Sven Bender patrolling midfield, Germany continued to push forward. However, sloppiness crept into their football and Jan Morávek twice threatened Horst Hrubesch's defence after picking up on loose play. There was even more give and take about the second half. When Jakub Heidenreich's corner reached Roman Brunclík at the far post, he helped it back across goal where Necid just failed to apply the finish. Next, Jan Vošahlík teed up Necid near the penalty spot and his volley sailed centimetres wide.

Near misses
With midfielder Jan Hable – recalled by Jakub Dovalil along with Brunclík and Heidenreich – gaining the upper hand, Morávek fluffed a chance after a mistake by Zieler. An even better opportunity fell to Germany replacement Sukuta-Pasu, after Sven Bender invited Diekmeier to lay a ball across goal, yet the No9 touched it wide. Another substitute, Martin Zeman, flashed a pass from right to left for Jan Lecjaks whose strike Zieler did well to hold.

Agonisingly close
The longer the game went, the more belief seemed to infuse Czech players and fans. The place nearly erupted when Lars Bender, challenging Jan Polák, nodded Zeman's inswinging free-kick narrowly wide of his own goal. It should definitely have been 2-1 after 84 minutes when Necid directed a free header agonisingly wide. It was the cue for extra time. Here, Necid carried on bullying Germany's defenders. Sukuta-Pasu provided a similar menace and might have scored twice before his late clincher which took his team into Saturday's final against Italy – and broke Czech hearts.