Czech Republic's Pavel Nedved (r) is tackled by Northern Ireland's Daniel Griffin during the group three WC qualifiier. (Reuters)

Slavia Prague striker Pavel Kuka opened the scoring in the 40th minute when he beat the offside trap to take Karel Poborsky's long ball and calmly slot it past keeper Maik Taylor.

But Northern Ireland struck back just before halftime when Philip Mulryne headed home David Healy's cross to level the scores at 1-1.

The Czechs, desperate for a win after being knocked off the top of the table by a 2-1 loss to Denmark at the weekend, pressed hard for a second goal but Taylor came up with several key saves.

Kuka missed two good chances before grabbing his second goal two minutes from time, deflecting Kaiserslautern striker Vratislav Lokevenc's header into the net.

Substitute Milan Baros sealed the victory for the Czechs in the 90th minute with only his second international goal.

The win puts the Czechs back on top of group three with 14 points from their seven games, but Bulgaria with 13 points and Denmark with 12 could overtake them after their games later on Wednesday.

Bulgaria play Iceland, while Denmark take on winless Malta -- the only team with a group record worse than Northern Ireland's who have four points.