Two goals from Matěj Vydra and one from Daniel Kolář earned the Czech Republic a 3-0 win in Armenia.
Vardan Minasyan’s side had started brightly, however, and gave Čech a testing time on the occasion of his milestone cap. Yura Movsisyan had the best chance to break the deadlock in the first half, but was denied by the Chelsea FC goalkeeper from close range.
Marcos Pizzelli was next to check the 30-year-old’s reflexes and Čech made another spectacular stop to keep out the playmaker’s powerful shot from 18 metres. Home substitutes Artur Sarkisov and Aras Özbiliz both spurned opportunities to equalise.
The defeat leaves Armenia in fifth place in qualifying Group B, which also includes Italy, Denmark, Bulgaria and Malta.
Armenia will next face off against Malta in a match scheduled for June 7 in Yerevan.
