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European Championship

Lithuania sprung a major surprise by defeating the Czech Republic on home soil in Olomouc tonight - with the help of Milan Baros' penalty miss.

The visitors began their Euro 2012 campaign by drawing with Scotland on Friday while the Czechs were playing their first match in Group I, and it was the hosts who were left playing catch-up thanks to Darvydas Sernas' 25th-minute header.

The Czechs began well with Daniel Pudil testing Lithuania keeper Zydrunas Karcemarskas after only five minutes.

Baros then saw his header saved by Karcemarskas while the hosts ramped up the pressure with a succession of corners.

But the breakthrough would not come and instead it was Sernas who stunned the Olomouc crowd.

Marius Stankevicius led a Lithuania break and his cross from the right wing picked out the skipper for a superb header into the corner beyond the grasp of Petr Cech.

The hosts thought they had levelled in the 38th minute but Pudil was denied by the offside flag.

The Czechs' best chance came two minutes later when they were awarded a penalty following Tadas Kijanskas' challenge on Martin Fenin.

But Baros' effort was weak and Karcemarskas pushed the ball to safety.

The pattern continued after half-time, with the home side dominating but unable to find an equaliser.

They spurned another golden chance in the 67th minute, Tomas Rosicky volleying wide after Baros teed him up.

The final minutes saw Cech join the assault on the Lithuania goal but Tomas Necid's shot against the legs of Karcemarskas was as close as they came.