Prolific Turyna Sees Off Sorry Sweden In U19 Euro Opener

Daniel Turyna was at the double for the Czech Republic as they saw overcame Sweden 1-2 to top Group A in the opening game of the 2017 European U19 Championship.

The pacey end to end encounter started in fairly even fashion, with chances falling to both sides in the first ten minutes. The Swedish captain Dusan Jajic saw his long-range effort fly wide early on, as did Czech captain Ondrej Sasinka when he let one fly moments later. The end to end start was proceeded by a rather dire exchange and approaching the half an hour mark, the game was still goalless.

As the game edged towards half-time, Czech Republic began to tighten their grip on it and Sasinka was about to miss the chance of the game. The 19-year-old beat a number of defenders with a dazzling run down the left and when he cut in and unleashed a curling effort, the ball flew just over Marco Johansson’s goal. A storm was beginning to brew in Jan Suchoparek’s Czech attack as a long ball fell to Turyna, but Carl Johansson was quick to clear for the Swedes. The Swedish defence was being stretched and two Daniel Marecek crosses narrowly missed out on finding the Czech captain. Finally, in the 41st minute, the deadlock was broken. A well-directed Libor Holik volley found its way to Dan Turyna who could not miss with an accurate low header, the goal was the first of the 2017 European U19 Championship. However, it could have been a very quick response from Sweden if it wasn’t for Alex Kral denying Jesper Karlsson just before the break.

The team in blue and yellow would start the second half in the fashion that they ended it and were almost gifted a leveller from a defensive mix up, but any real damage was avoided from the Anton Kralj cross. Despite the Swedish comeback, it wouldn’t be long before the Czech’s doubled their lead through another strike from forward Daniel Turyna. Another dangerous delivery troubled the Sweden defence and fell all the way to Michal Sadilek, whose volley rebounded off of Johansson and fell to Turyna on the edge of the box. The forward struck an unstoppable volley into the left-hand corner of the net leaving the keeper no chance and doubling the lead of the visitors.

Less than five minutes later, an on-form Czech Republic side could have tripled their lead when a long ball found its way eventually to Sasinka, only for the skipper to narrowly volley over. After weathering the Czech storm for a match-ending third goal, the Swedes began their own charge and came close when an Adrian free-kick whistled by the far post without a touch. However, as Sweden went forward they left their back four open to a counter attack from the men in red and blue, with Sasinka missing yet another chance when he was put in on the left. Suddenly, it began to look like the Czech’s would pay for the missed chances, as Viktor Gyokeres popped up to tap in a lifeline for Sweden from a clever Jajic cross.

With ten minutes to play, Claes Eriksson’s men had made things interest and were almost level when Jedlicka in the Czech net did well to keep his side ahead with a superb low save. Martin Jedlicka would prove to be the hero again for his side, when a goalmouth scramble saw the ball fall in his direction and the 19-year-old was left to push the ball to safety. From the resulting clearance, Czech midfielder Sadilek almost put it through his own net, as his effort to smash the ball out for a corner clipped the post on its way through. A late penalty claim for handball after a Swedish long ball was turned down by referee Sergei Lapochkin and moments later, he would blow the full-time whistle much to the relief of the travelling Czech Republic fans.

The nervy but deserved victory means that the Czech Republic top Group A after Matchday One and Sweden are left in third place. Up next for the Swedes is a tough encounter with tournament hosts Georgia and for the Czechs an even tougher encounter with fellow opening game victors Portugal. The Matchday two ties are set to take place in two days’ time.