Czech Republic beats Wales 2:1 in Euro 2008 qualifier

The Czech Republic beat Wales 2:1 in a Euro 2008 Group D qualifying match on Saturday. Substitute David Lafata scored twice on his international debut. The Czechs went 1:0 up when the 24-year-old Lafata headed in Libor Sionko's pass from close range in the 76th minute, little more than a minute after he came on. In the 85th, Czech defender Martin Jiranek knocked a cross into his own net from close range for the Welsh equaliser but Lafata scored his second four minutes later, also from close range after a pass from Sionko. The Czechs play away against Slovakia on Wednesday, while Wales are at home to the Slovaks on October 7.