Czech Republic Stays Perfect After 3-0 Win

Milan Baros scored twice in two minutes to help the Czech Republic beat Denmark, 3-0, Sunday at Porto, Portugal, to advance to the semifinals of the European Championship.

The Czech Republic, the only team with a perfect record, is attempting to reach its second final in the last three Euro tournaments. It joined Greece, Portugal and the Netherlands in the semifinals.

Jan Koller opened the scoring early in the second half before Baros stole the show, setting his country up for a semifinal against surprising Greece.

Baros, who plays for Liverpool in the English Premier League, became the top scorer of the tournament with five goals, and ran the Danish defense ragged in the most one-sided quarterfinal of Euro 2004. He received a standing ovation as he left the field in the 70th minute.

“Before the championship I said I’d love to score four. I’m glad I’ve gone one better,” Baros said.

The Czechs, who lost the championship to Germany in 1996 on a golden goal from Oliver Bierhoff, now have the best offense in the tournament with 10 goals in four matches and will be the heavy favorites against the Greeks.

Koller slumped on his back at the final whistle, then ran to join his teammates as they jumped up and down in delight in front of their adoring fans.

Before Baros finished off the Danes, Koller started the scoring.

In the 49th minute, Juventus star midfielder Pavel Nedved forced a corner kick. Karel Poborsky took it and Koller headed the ball past goalkeeper Thomas Soerensen into the top left corner.

It was the second goal at Euro 2004 for Koller, who at 6 feet 8 is the tallest player in the competition.

Nedved almost doubled the lead in the 56th minute, but his header was stopped by Soerensen. Baros scored in the 63rd and 65th minutes for the final margin. He has 21 goals in 29 international matches and eight in his last six.

With five goals at Euro 2004, Baros moved ahead of England’s Wayne Rooney and the Netherlands’ Ruud Van Nistelrooy to the top of the scoring charts.

Denmark, the 1992 winner, had no response for Baros and failed to convert several late chances.

“Football is all about scoring goals, but we didn’t take our chances after playing a very good first half,” Denmark Coach Morten Olsen said. “You need to be brutal to win, not nice. The quarterfinal is OK but we could have gone further.”

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Jaime Lozano scored three goals and Jared Borgetti had two to lead Mexico to a 8-0 win over Dominica in a CONCACAF World Cup qualifying match at Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Mexico won the two-leg series, 18-0, on aggregate to advance to the semifinals of the region covering North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Adolfo Bautista, David Oteo and Hector Altamirano also scored for Mexico, which will face St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago in the next stage.

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Mahler Tressor Moreno and Sergio Herrera scored to lead Colombia to a 2-0 victory over Argentina in a friendly at the Orange Bowl in Miami. Argentina plays Peru in a friendly Wednesday at Giants Stadium.... Marcelo Gallardo scored in the 42nd minute as River Plate won its 32nd Argentine league title despite being held to a 1-1 tie by Atletico Rafaela at Buenos Aires.... Universidad de Chile won its 12th Chilean league title after beating last year’s champion Cobreloa, 3-2, on penalty kicks at Calama, Chile. The teams were tied 1-1 after regulation and overtime.