Czech Republic 0 - 0 Northern Ireland

Hosts Czech out

Updated: October 14, 2009, 8:00 AM UK

The Czech Republic's faint hopes of making it into the World Cup play-offs were extinguished on Wednesday night when drawing with Northern Ireland.

• Worthington hails progress

The Czechs needed to beat Northern Ireland in Prague and hope Slovenia slipped up in San Marino. But that scenario never looked a possibility with Slovenia cruising to a 3-0 win while the Czechs laboured at the Synot Tip Stadium.

Northern Ireland are taking small steps forward and rediscovered some pride after the shattering defeat by Slovakia last time around. They were quick out of the blocks on a bitterly cold night and Damien Johnson was floored by Marek Jankulovski in the third minute.

Grant McCann delivered an inswinging free-kick and skipper Aaron Hughes, winning his 70th cap, peeled away from his marker only to head wide of the post.

Niall McGinn then showed a good turn of pace down the left in the 15th minute but his cross was cleared to safety.

Even though the province have a dreadful record on the road they were knocking the ball about well and using McGinn and Johnson on the flanks whenever possible.

The Czechs were struggling to get going but broke out of their slumber in the 34th minute. Tomas Necid got on the end of a deep cross from David Jarolim but Stephen Craigan made a good block.

Play switched down the other end and Steven Davis squandered a good opportunity in the 39th minute. Johnson supplied the cross but Davis' touch inside the six-yard area let him down and the ball trickled past the post.

This was a good spell by Northern Ireland and McGinn nearly made the breakthrough in the 41st minute. He latched on to a good through-ball from Davis and clipped in a half-volley. Petr Cech was slow to react but managed to turn the ball around the post at the last minute.

The Czechs responded two minutes later and Johnson showed his defensive side by clearing Tomas Sivok's header off the line following a corner from Tomas Rosicky.

McGinn then skipped past two defenders in the 49th minute. He tried to place his effort beyond Cech into the corner but put too much pace on the ball and saw it go wide.

The Czechs hit back four minutes later and goalkeeper Maik Taylor had to look alert to turn over a corner from Jaroslav Plasil.

Northern Ireland were enjoying plenty of possession, however, and Chris Baird released McCann in the 62nd minute. He tried his luck from distance but failed to trouble Cech, his effort finishing wide of the target.

Then McGinn set up David Healy in a good position. He strode forward only to send a weak shot into the arms of the goalkeeper. Warren Feeney was drafted into the action after 68 minutes in the hope of getting the victory. He replaced Healy, who finished the campaign with just one goal to his credit.

Healy was disconsolate as he trudged off as Feeney took centre stage after just 45 minutes for Cardiff reserves this season following a hip injury.

The Czechs were anxious to finish on a winning note and almost went ahead in the 85th minute. Jankulovski cracked in a shot from the edge of the area but Maik Taylor was equal to it and parried the ball to safety.

Worthington hails progress

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington believes his team's World Cup qualifying campaign has been a success.

He said: "It has been a good campaign for us overall and I think we can take a lot of positives away. We did drop our guard against Slovakia and I have said if you don't treat the game with respect, it can kick you in the teeth, and that is what happened. But I asked for a big performance and the players didn't let me down. I knew if they performed, they would get a result and we certainly deserved it.

"There is no point in looking back and asking, 'What might have been for this campaign?'. I only want to look forward. The players have been super and the staff have been first class throughout also. The supporters, home and away, have been amazing as always.''

He said: "I thought little Niall McGinn was fantastic. He was a breath of fresh air for us. His running at the Czech defence caused them all sorts of problems. It is terrific to have him on board. I wasn't at all surprised at his impact on the game because I am well aware of what he is capable of. He has been around the squad throughout the campaign.''

The Czechs could not break Northern Ireland down and goalkeeper Maik Taylor showed that despite his lack of first-team action at Birmingham, he remains a key player for his national team at the age of 38.

Worthington said: "A clean sheet always gives you a chance, especially on the road. We have been good at home but those performances must go hand-in-hand with the away games if you want to go places. I was delighted with our passing and all in all it was a super performance and a great result."