Czech Republic's Tomas Rosicky celebrates scoring his team's third goal against the U.S. during their Group E World Cup 2006 soccer match in Gelsenkirchen yesterday. Rosicky scored twice in the Czech Republic's 3-0 win. - REUTERS
GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP):
JAN KOLLER scored early, and Tomas Rosicky added two more goals yesterday to lead the Czech Republic to a 3-0 win over the United States in Group E of the World Cup.
Koller, who returned only last month from knee surgery, already had been fouled by Oguchi Onyewu and Eddie Pope in the first two minutes. He then headed a cross to put the ball past United States goalkeeper Kasey Keller for his 43rd goal in 69 international appearances, a Czech record.
Rosicky scored on a soaring 25-metre (yard) shot in the 36th minute and the Americans never got back into the game.
Rosicky hit the crossbar in the 68th and added a goal in the 76th minute, getting past the United States defence off a through pass from Pavel Nedved and beating Keller on the breakaway.
"They punished us for every mistake we made," United States coach Bruce Arena said.
"The Rosicky goal was a great goal," Arena added. "To me the big play in the game was giving up the early goal."
The Americans got a pre-game pep talk from President George W. Bush, who called from Camp David before the game and wished them well.
Koller injured his right leg battling Onyewu for a ball in the 43d minute and was taken off on a stretcher. He was taken to a hospital to be examined, the Czech team said, and remains doubtful for the rest of the tournament.
