Kuka's late strike denies McIlroy's fighters

Czech Republic 3 Northern Ireland 1

Northern Ireland were denied a draw when the Czech Republic scored twice in the final three minutes to secure victory in this World Cup Group Three qualifier in the Na Stinadlech stadium here yesterday.

Sammy McIlroy's makeshift side looked set for a memorable result when Philip Mulryne cancelled out Pavel Kuka's opener on the stroke of half-time.

However, the Czechs, who also struck the woodwork three times, finally made the breakthrough when Kuka stabbed home substitute Vratislav Lokvenc's pass on 88 minutes before substitute Milan Baros added a third in the final minute.

Despite missing 10 players due to injury and suspension, McIlroy still managed to spring a surprise by deploying Stuart Elliott as a lone striker and moving David Healy out to the right wing. Danny Griffin man-marked Pavel Nedved in an attempt to nullify the Czech captain.

On 30 minutes the Czechs thought they had made the breakthrough when Patrik Berger volleyed home right-footed from Jan Koller's nod down, but the giant Czech striker, who later threw down his shirt when substituted, was ruled offside.

Kuka broke down Northern Ireland's stubborn resistance to give the Czechs the lead on 39 minutes with a goal which looked offside.

But the battling Irish equalised on the stroke of half- time with their first effort on target when Mulryne headed home only his second goal for his country from Healy's searching cross.

CZECH REPUBLIC (3-5-2): Srnicek (Brescia); Repka (Fiorentina), Votava, Tyce (both TSV 1860 Munich); Galasek (Ajax), Rosicky (Borussia Dortmund), Nedved, Poborsky (both Lazio), Berger (Liverpool); Kuka (Slavia Prague), Koller (Anderlecht). Substitutes: Bejbl (RC Lens) for Votava, h-t; Lokvenc (Kaiserslautern) for Poborsky, 83; Baros (Banik Ostrava) for Koller, 65.

NORTHERN IRELAND (4-5-1): Taylor (Fulham); A Hughes (Newcastle), Williams (Wimbledon), Murdock (Preston), Nolan (Bradford City); Healy (Preston), M Hughes (Wimbledon), Griffin (Newcastle), Johnson (Blackburn), Mulryne (Norwich); Elliott (Motherwell). Substitutes: James Quinn (West Bromwich) for Elliott, 66; Ferguson (Linfield) for Johnson; Kennedy (Watford) for Mulryne, 83.

Referee: L Sundell (Sweden).