Czechs book World Cup playoff final spot after penalty shootout win against Ireland

PRAGUE, March 26 : The Czech Republic clinched their place in a World Cup qualification playoff final after edging past Ireland on penalties on Thursday in a thrilling encounter that finished 2-2 after extra time.

Jan Kliment scored the winning penalty to send the Czechs through to Tuesday's final where they will play Denmark for a place at the tournament in June-July in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

"We didn’t start well but we handled it as a team and we’re moving on — that’s what matters most," said Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar, who saved two penalties in the 4-3 shootout win.

"We prepared for the penalty shootout with both goalkeeping coaches and it paid off so I have to thank them."

Troy Parrott put the Irish ahead in the 19th minute from the spot after a VAR review determined that Czech midfielder Vladimir Darida had caught Nathan Collins' foot when contesting a loose ball in the area.

The visitors doubled their lead four minutes later when an attempted clearance from defender Vladimir Coufal went into his own net. The Czechs responded in the 27th minute through a Patrik Schick penalty and then sent the match to extra time when captain Ladislav Krejci headed home in the 86th minute.

Ireland, roared on by a large contingent of travelling supporters, nearly grabbed the opener in the seventh minute when Collins unleashed a fierce shot just outside the penalty area that deflected off a Czech defender and hit the woodwork.

"It's just pain, we only feel pain of course," Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrímsson told RTE television. "When you go this far, it's up to luck and up to the flip of a coin.

"We had our first six or seven penalty takers ready and most of them were on the pitch, we had planned for this."

Czech coach Miroslav