Stadion Neder was alive on Monday night as Robbie Doyle’s Czech Republic put on a clinic over Paul Kelly’s Scotland, Kelly stepping into the ElectroCity FIFA 20 European Championships in place of Brian Donohue.
The Czechs were unlucky not to press ahead in the opening minutes (3), Darida’s inswinging corner picked up by Soucek whose close range header clipped the left upright before being punched clear.
The clearance spilled to Slavia Prague’s Jan Boril who could only fire wide and right.
Soucek started a great passage of play on 18 minutes, threading a low ball through to Kopic on the left flank, beating three defenders in the process to slot across to the goal to the waiting Masopust who obliged (20) with his right foot to open the Czech account for the night.
RB Leipzig’s Patrick Schick, on loan from Roma, put away a fine solo effort (40), tailed all the way by Aberdeen’s Scott McKenna from 30 yards out, ultimately firing low across the goal from 10 yards out for his side’s second.
Scotland’s best chance of the first half fell to John McGinn, a super right footed strike from the edge of the box, tipped onto the right post and out.
Scotland’s woes continued, Callum McGregor pulling down Masopust in his own area to give up a penalty, Vladimir Darida cool and confident and tucking the ball past David Marshall and into the top right corner (45).
With a half hour to play, Kopic set Schick through on the left edge of the Scottish box, Mulgrew or McKenna unable to stop the pass.
A cheeky backheel between both defenders found Soucek unmarked in the centre, switching to his right to side foot home from 10 yards to make it 4-0 (62).
Scotland got some redemption, Kilmarnock’s Eamonn Brophy hauled down by Brabec with a clear cut opportunity at his feet, Brabec seeing straight red for the challenge.
Charlie Mulgrew went low and left to tuck away the spot kick (79) and take some of the shine off Czech Republic’s superiority.
Final score 4-1.
