Czech Republic humble China in third-place playoff

World
Europe

After missing the berth for the final, the Czech Republic clinched a consolation victory in the third-place playoff in the second edition of the China Cup International Championship in Nanning, south China on Monday.

Tomas Kalas, Patrik Schick and Miachael Krmencik scored three consecutive goals in five minutes to power the eastern European side to a 4-1 win over the home side.

Czech players celebrate after Tomas Kalas’ equalizer. /VCG Photo

China made a promising start as they were quite aggressive in the first few minutes after kickoff, and midfielder Fan Xiaodong grabbed his first goal for the Chinese national team to give an early lead for the hosts in the 4th minute.

The Czech Republic players gradually took control of the game but still failed to find their much-needed equalizer in the first half.

Fan Xiaodong scores the opening game of the match against the Czech Republic. /VCG Photo

However, they eventually levelled the score when Kalas turned the ball in from a cross in the 57th minute, before Schick and Krmencik netted two consecutive goals in the 58th and 61st minutes to put the Europeans in a commanding position in the game.

China's goalkeeper thwarted a penalty kick from Vladimir Darida, but the Czech Republic soon made it 4-1 with a header from Pavel Kaderabek. The result means that the Czechs place third and China the fourth in the tournament.