Rueters
Thursday, February 22, 2001; 5:04 PM

	Harry Koch of Kaiserslautern jumps at a ball as Slavia Praha's Adam Petrous attempts a clear. (Kai Pfaffenbach - Rueters)

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany, Feb 22 – A superb second-half goal by Czech striker Vratislav Lokvenc gave Kaiserslautern a 1-0 victory over Slavia Prague on Thursday for a place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup.

Lokvenc fired an angled volley from inside the box to defeat his countrymen after collecting a headed pass from midfielder Andreas Buck in the 59th minute.

The goal gave Kaiserslautern a 1-0 aggregate victory in the fourth round tie.

The 1998 German champions had most of possession but were out of sorts in front of goal until Lokvenc struck.

Kaiserslautern, who will appear in the last eight of the UEFA Cup for the first time since 1983, now meet Dutch side PSV Eindhoven.

Slavia goalkeeper Radek Cerny was quickly into action, saving a powerful long-range drive by Kaiserslautern captain Mario Basler after three minutes.

The "Red Devils" threatened again in the seventh minute when Miroslav Klose hit the post following a corner.

Klose, set to make his international debut when Germany play France in a friendly next Tuesday, wasted another opportunity soon afterwards.

Kaiserslautern missed a glorious chance to take the lead seconds before halftime when Lokvenc, standing alone five metres out, sent the ball wide.

Relying on counter-attacks, Slavia showed they could be threat when a header from striker Ludek Zelenka bounced off the top of the bar in the 50th minute.

Slavia came close again four minutes later when midfielder Richard Dostalek lost his duel with Kaiserslautern goalkeeper Georg Koch.

After Lokvenc scored, Kaiserslautern looked edgy in defence at times but survived courtesy of a faultless Koch.