Report: Czechia 1-3 England Elite League squad

England men’s Elite League squad defeated Czechia by 3-1 in the European Elite League, with substitute Dane Scarlett grabbing a brace to follow up his hat-trick in last week’s victory over Poland.

It took just three minutes for England to take the lead through Oli Arblaster, who slotted home from just inside the 18-yard-box.

England went into the break ahead, but just five minutes after the interval, the home outfit responded, with a fantastic mazy run from Filip Horsky, ending with a side-netted finish.

With things all square, a change was needed, and the introduction of Lewis Hall and Scarlett meant trouble for Czechia, as the pair combined for two goals in the last 15 minutes of the encounter.

It was a dream start in Znojmo, when midfielder Arblaster found the back of the net and put the visitors ahead. A superb driving run down the right flank from Alfie Devine led to an infield pass from the number ten, which found the feet of the Sheffield United man who laced a wonderful strike into the far left bottom corner, leaving the goalkeeper no chance.

However, after a positive early start for the men in white, they struggled to capitalise on their advantage, with the home side gradually easing their way into the match, and it was the hosts who had the better opportunities going into the break.

Despite the dominant possession-based football from England, several exchanges of play from Czechia, led to numerous chances for Pavel Sustr’s men, and just after the half-hour mark, an immaculate cross to Lukas Fila almost found the back of the net.

After going into half time with a slender lead, it didn’t last long, as after just five minutes of the second period, a great solo run from Horsky saw him take the ball past two England players and slide it home into the far corner from just outside the six yard box, making it all square.

Soon after, the Czechs went searching for a second as Horsky once more found the target but a smart stop from James Beadle at his near post denied the hosts of a lead.

Meanwhile, the introduction of Newcastle’s Hall would be the change to make a difference, as he set up England’s winner. In the 77th minute, he took a quick free-kick on the left side just outside the 18-year-box and found the feet of Scarlett, who made no mistake in front of goal as he smashed the ball into the roof of the net at the near post, putting England in front.

And it was the two substitutes who linked up again for England’s third of the afternoon. Luke Chambers drove forward towards the edge of the box and did brilliantly to find Hall, whose cross found Scarlett. The Spurs striker calmly slotted home into an empty net for his second of the day, making it 3-1 at the Mestsky Stadion in added time.

That’s now the third win in a row for the Elite League squad, and their second against Czechia.

England: 1 James Beadle © (Sheffield Wednesday) 2 Reuell Walters (Arsenal) 3 Luke Chambers (Liverpool) 4 Tim Iroegbunam (Aston Villa) 5 Ben Nelson (Leicester City) 6 Nelson Abbey (Olympiakos) 7 Kaide Gordon (Liverpool) 8 Oli Arblaster (Sheffield United) 9 Divin Mubama (West Ham) 10 Alfie Divine (Plymouth Argyle) 11 Martial Godo (Wigan).

Substitutes: 14 Lewis Hall (Newcastle United) for Gordon 53, 18 Micah Hamilton (Manchester City) for Good 53, 19 Dane Scarlett (Tottenham) for Divin Mubama 53, 17 Tom Fellows (West Brom) for Tim Iroegbunam 67, Jadel Katongo (Peterborough United) for Reuell Walters 78

Substitutes not used: 13 Tommy Simkin (Stoke City), 22 Jed Ward (Bristol Rovers).