Silver goal puts Greeks in dream land

Greece 1 Czech Republic 0 (After extra time)

A silver goal header from Traianos Dellas gave Greece a sensational win over the Czech Republic to send the surprise packages into Sunday’s Euro 2004 final with hosts Portugal.

The Greeks had been on the back foot for most of the regulation 90 minutes but in the first period of extra time they then gained the ascendancy, creating two clear chances for Stelios Giannakopoulos and Dellas with Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech saving both times.

But with what proved the last kick of the match substitute Vasilios Tsiartas swung in a corner and a header from former Sheffield United man Dellas put the Greeks into Sunday’s final amid jubilant scenes at the Estadio do Dragao.

Referee Pierluigi Collina blew for time before the match could resume – to set up a rematch of the opening game of the tournament, which was won 2-1 by Greece.

With just two minutes on the clock the Czechs nearly took the lead when they won a free-kick after Nedved was clattered by Konstantinos Katsouranis - who escaped with only a lecture from Italian referee Pierluigi Collina.

Jankulovski’s free-kick was headed back by Jan Koller into the path of Tomas Rosicky, who crashed a tremendous dipping volley from outside the box against the crossbar.

Another fine move by the Czechs saw Rosicky find Nedved, whose shot was deflected behind for a corner.

Nedved’s corner was headed out to Jankulovski who forced a fine save from Antonios Nikopolidis at the expense of another corner.

Then the Greeks launched their first offensive and a nice move involving Angelis Basinas and Charisteas almost let in Vryzas – but the Czechs managed to clear.

Karagounis was next to try his luck but his shot looped up off the knee of Ujfalusi into the arms of Petr Cech.

Georgios Seitaridis was keeping a close watch on Milan Baros, whose five goals have made him the competition’s leading scorer.

Then Bolf gave away a dangerous free-kick with a foul on Karagounis but the midfielder’s free-kick took a deflection off the wall straight into Cech’s arms.

Another sweeping Czech move saw Rosicky win a corner but the Greeks dealt with the situation well.

Baros got the better of Seitaridis, who brought him down just outside the penalty area to earn a booking from Collina.

Less than a minute later Jankulovski almost joined him for a foul on Katsouranis but Collina decided not to issue a card which would have ruled the Udinese player out of a potential final appearance.

Greece came close to a goal when Panagiotis Fyssas fired in a dangerous cross which just eluded Vryzas and Charisteas – Cech could not hold the ball but the danger was cleared.

Karagounis then did well to dispossess Karel Poborsky but his shot was wide of the near post.

Nedved launched a daring surge down the middle but just overran the ball as Nikopolidis came out to gather from the feet of the European footballer of the year.

The Czechs almost took the lead when Rosicky crossed from the right and Nedved failed to connect with the ball falling to Jankulovski – but his shot was superbly saved by Nikopolidis at the expense of a corner. Nedved needed treatment after the incident.

From Poborsky’s corner Koller’s header found Grygera, who failed to make a good connection and to the relief of the Czechs Nedved returned to the fray.

But after 39 minutes Nedved could no longer continue and was replaced by Vladimir Smicer in midfield.

A minute before the break Jankulovski launched a clever run and his well-flighted lob beat Nikopolidis but also the bar.

In the opening seconds of the second period Koller's header almost played in Baros but under pressure from Seitaridis he handled the ball.

Then Tomas Galasek was cautioned for a foul on Charisteas who was bearing down on the Czech goal – but once again the free-kick was wasted.

Baros was getting frustrated and was lucky to escape a caution when he berated the assistant referee after another robust but fair challenge by Seitaridis.

At the other end Karagounis did not get hold of his shot properly when well placed.

Collina once again showed his merciful side for failing to issue a card when Karagounis fouled Grygera and next Koller appealed in vain for a penalty for holding from the resulting free-kick.

Smicer was next cautioned when Seitaridis finally left Baros alone and rampaged up the field with the ball - but then Zagorakis became the third ``at-risk'' player to get a favour from Collina when he was not punished for fouling Baros.

Poborsky, winning his 99th cap for the Czechs, curled his shot wide of the post from the subsequent free-kick.

Then Poborsky floated in a corner which beat Nikopolidis but Koller’s header struck Baros with the ball looking goalbound.

Then the giant forward – at 6ft 8in the tallest player in the tournament – set up his Borussia Dortmund team-mate Rosicky, who fired wide of the near post.

Bolf then gave away another dangerous free-kick with a foul on Vryzas and Karagounis’ free-kick was headed straight into the hands of Cech by Vryzas.

Poborsky had another crack at goal when his left-footed lob went just over the bar after the Greek defence had faltered collectively.

Charisteas was next into the book for a crude foul on Jankulovski with both defences frustrating the strikers and then Greece coach Otto Rehhagel brought on Giannakopoulos for Basinas.

Giannakopoulos swung in a good corner for Greece but Vryzas’ header was just too high.

After 79 minutes the Czechs created the best chance yet when a slick exchange of passes between the Borussia Dortmund pair saw Rosicky set up Koller – who fired wide with the whole goal to aim at.

Then finally Baros escaped the attentions of Seitaridis and cut inside from the right of the Greek penalty area but fell to the floor in despair as his left-footed shot went just wide of the far post.

After 86 minutes Karagounis earned a booking which would rule him out of the final as Collina punished him for a foul on Smicer.

But despite a hectic Czech finale it remained goalless at 90 minutes.

In the first minute of the first extra period Baros volleyed a Rosicky pass goalwards only for Nikopolidis to make another fine save but Collina, officiating in his last major tournament, had already blown for an infringement.

But then Greece created their best chance yet when Charisteas flicked the ball on to Giannakopoulos who tried to head the ball over Cech – but the giant goalkeeper managed to get a palm on the ball.

A minute later Ujfalusi’s last-ditch tackle prevented the Bolton midfielder getting a shot in and then an offside flag halted a move when Katsouranis looked to have played in Charisteas.

At the other end Baros’ cross found the head of Koller but it was deflected behind for a corner.

Baros was next booked for a foul on Zagorakis and again the Greeks came desperately close when Karagounis’ free-kick found the head of Traianos Dellas who was foiled again by Cech.

Then came the dramatic conclusion to the match when Dellas headed home a Vasilios Tsiartas free-kick – and before the match could resume Collina blew for the end.