Czechia-Poland 14:7

It was a very first home competition game for Czech team, Czechia played only exhibition games at home so far. And as Poland was playing its very first competition game in Polish football history, it was a game full of first times. Very nervous first times. No team was able to move the football especially during first halftime. Partially due to poor offensive efforts, partially due to defensive teams.

Czech defense held Poland to three-and-out on its first three possession and to 50 total yards in first half, but Czech offense was not much better. Best Czech drive ended on unlucky interception by Krzyszto Wis, who picked a tipped pass. Czech team reached the Polish half only once, this drive went to an unsuccesful 53-yard field goal attempt.

All of a sudden, Poland scored a touchdown on first drive during second halftime. Tomasz Dziedzic found Tomasz Ochnio in the endzone on a 8-yard pass play. Poland survived a questionable fourth down reception, which appeared as a incompleted pass, but officials kept the drive alive. Poland scored its touchdown on first play after this decision.

First TD inspired also Czech offense, who scored immediatelly on 85-yard drive. Most contributions came from duo Lukáš Růžek and Dundáček, who scored the touchdown on his "classic" dance through the middle. Czech defense ruled the field over next drives, Matěj večes excelled with two back-to-back sacks. Dundáček was unlucky again, as he was picked again, for second time due to a tipped pass.

However, it was Dundáček again, who ulitilizied the drive after weak Polish punt for his and team´s second touchdown. Game deciding play was performed by Filip Ondrášek, who stripped the ball out of receiver´s hand on impotant third down play, which shortly appeared as game-tying, during last minute of play.

Very hard battle brought and a little bit lucky win for team Czechia. Thanks to tremendous performance by Czech DL and linebacker Karel Augusta, thanks to individual efforts of Růžek and Dundáček.

Velmi těžký boj jsme tedy poměrně šťastně, díky famózní práci celé naší DL a linebackera Karla Augusty, díky individuálním výkonům Růžka a Dundáčka a díky včasnému zákroku Ondráška, dokázali urvat a postoupili do druhé fáze kvalifikace o postup na ME. Zatímco během zápasu jsme měli několikrát trochu smůlu, ať už při hozených Dundáčkových interceptionech nebo při zákrocích Ladislava Jenšíka nebo Leoše Mikulky, kteří naopak interception chytit mohli, nebo při fumblech soupeře, kde jsme byli blízko k zalehnutí, tak na konci výsledek spasil šťastný zákrok, který předchozí pech minimálně vyvážil.

* Dundáček gained 162 yards (on 20 attempts) and 2 TDs on ground, but threw only for 68 yards a 2 picks
* Polish running back ran only eight times on the other hand
* There were 22 fouls combined, Czechia lost over 100 yards due to penalties
* Czechia recorded 6 sacks (Večes 2 and Remigius Machura 2.5). Poland none
* Ondrášek started to play football this year. He won Czech D-III in July and was starter for NT in October
* Also Machura played his first full season this year
* Ladislav Jenšík, playing in GFL for Dresden Monarchs, returned into NT after several years
* Babatunde Aiyegbusi, who was on NFL´s Minnesota Vikings summer camp, was significantly noticed only was during the game - when he was flagged for false start
* There were 11 WRs on Czech roster and only 7 OLs

Scoring summary
Quarter 3
POL TD, 0-7: Tomasz Ochnio 16 yd pass fromTomasze Dziedzice (Dawid Panczyszyn kick), 8:13
CZE TD, 7-7: Jan Dundáček 4 yd run (Marek Hruboň kick), 3:18
Quarter 4
CZE TD, 14-7: Jan Dundáček 9 yd run (Marek Hruboň kick), 8:18

Cloudy, windy, 8°C
Officials: Thordarsson, Klimeš, Leoniak, Rybář, Janhuba, Walentynowicz, Jurzyk
Attendance: 646

Game stats
Czechia-Poland

Whole game replay
Czech TV online service

Other videos
Ondrášek´s game deciding tackle
All touchdowns
Inteviews with both head coaches and with two Czech players

Remaining results from first qualification phase
Spain-Israel 20:28
Switzerland-Slovakia 21:0
Russia-Norway 20:0
Serbia-Hungary 56:0
Netherlands-Belgium will be played on 24.10.