Things started off very well for Iceland on Sunday but ended quite poorly as they fell 2-1 against the Czech Republic. Ragnar Sigurdsson gave Iceland an early lead but a goal just before halftime, combined with an own goal by the Iceland goalkeeper in the second half, tilted the game in the Czechs' favor.
Czech Republic vs. Iceland Final score 2-1, Iceland fall thanks to a second-half own goal
The Czechs escaped with three points thanks to a second-half own goal
Iceland took the lead in the 9th minute thanks to a poor decision by Czech keeper Petr Cech and some great teamwork. The initial ball into the box forced Cech to come off his line in an attempt to play the ball as it came in. Instead, it was headed back toward the end line, where Birkir Bjarnason did a tremendous job of keeping the ball in play and heading it back in front of goal, where Ragnar Sigurdsson was waiting to put the ball into the empty net. It’s the central defender’s first career international goal.
The Czechs responded well to the goal, but just when it looked like they would fail to equalize before halftime, Pavel Kaderabek got free in the middle of the Iceland box and sent a header past Hannes Thor Halldorsson to even the match at 1-1.
The pressure continued from the Czech Republic in the second half and in the 61st minute they took the lead in rather cruel fashion. What seemed like a rather innocuous attack turned quickly to disaster as the ball went off Halldorsson and into his own net, giving the Czechs a 2-1 lead.
Czech Republic: Cech, Pudil, Kadlec, Sivok, Kaderabek, Krejci (Pilar 65’), Darida, Plašil, Dočkal, Rosicky Prochazka 90’), Lafata (Necid 81’)
Goals: Kaderabek (45” +1), Halldorsson (61’ og)
Iceland: Halldorsson, R. Sigurdsson, Arnason, T. Bjarnason (Saevarsson 63’), Skulason, B. Bjarnason Gudmundsson (77’), G. Sigurdsson, Gunnarsson, Hallfredsson (Gislaon 64’), Sigthorsson, Bodvarsson
Goals: R. Sigurdsson (9’)
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