Czechs check mate Belgium as Baros converts penalty in friendly

Former Liverpool and Lyon striker Milan Baros converted a penalty as Czech Republic rallied from a goal down to beat their European rivals Belgium 3-1 in an international friendly at Teplice.

Baros fired the Czechs to a 2-1 lead when he scored from the spot in the 41st minute, after Belgian defender Daniel Van Buyten fouled Vaclav Sverkos in the area.

Late in the match, David Rozehnal secured the win after a close range strike in the 78th as the Belgian defence failed to clear a corner kick.

Earlier in the match, Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen put the visitors ahead in the 12th minute with a left-footed swerving drive from 22 metres, but Roman Hubnik would bring the hosts back into the game by heading in 15 minutes later after goalkeeper Stijn Stijnen had saved from a free kick.

Coach Ivan Hasek has now got off to a winning start, with both Hubnik and Rozehnal scored their first international goals, after taking over the team last month for the rest of the World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Czechs are fourth in Group 3 with eight points in six games, and play group leader Slovakia in a crucial qualifier on Sept. 5 with their opponents already rebuilding their squad for the 2012 European Championship after falling out of contention for a World Cup spot.

Belgium travels to group leader Spain for its next qualifier.