The Czech Republic made the most of their game in hand over Romania, by sweeping bottom placed Armenia aside, beating them 4-1 in their group 1 qualification match, the victory pushes the Czechs back into second place in the Group and well placed for at least a play-off spot with two games to go.

Ironically, the Czechs started badly against Armenia, just as they had against Romania four days earlier. Devoid of ideas,the hosts' were not playing their normally free-flowing football, in fact Karel Bruckner's men were under the cosh from the resilient Armenians, who displayed a similar performance to the one that saw them stand up so well against the Netherlands at the weekend, before they eventually lost 1-0.

Despite long balls sent in for Jan Koller, the Czechs, renowned for their goalscoring in the Germany 2006 qualifying campaign so far, were unable to create any real scoring opportunities in the first 45 minutes. The closest they got was a Karel Poborsky free-kick from just outside the box on the stroke of half-time.

The Armenians squandered a superb opportunity to go ahead on 31 minutes. Ara Hakobian was clean through on stand-in goalkeeper Jaromir Blazek. But could find no way around the keeper to capitalise on the break.

The Czechs took to the field looking a different outfit in the second half,and found their way in the opening seconds, Marek Heinz's deflected shot from the edge of the box on 47 minutes trickled past Roman Berezovsky into the back of the net.

The goal flattened the Armenians spirits and, just five minutes later, Jan Polak snatched a second for the home side. Benefiting from another wicked deflection, his shot bouncing beyond the wrong footed Berezovsky.

A third goal for the Czechs was always on the cards and came from a Poborsky corner-kick in the 58th minute, Koller rose highest to send a vicious header goalwards. The Armenian keeper fumbled his diving save at the feet of Aston Villa and ex-Liverpool striker Milan Baros who tapped the ball in.

The Czech Republic, havind re-discovered their old form,turned on the style,the best goal of the game,came as Polak grabbed his second of the day with a bullet of a strike from distance in the 76th minute that cannoned in off the post. Ara Hakobian raced in behind the Czech defence to tap home for a deserved consolation goal for the Armenians who had played especially well in the first half.

The Czechs are now second place in Group 1 with 24 points, just four behind the Netherlands, The top two meet on the 8th of October, before the Czechs round off their qualifying campaign in Helsinki against the Finns. The Armenians, in last place in the group, have no chance of qualifying for Germany 2006 with one game to go against Andorra.

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