Italy 3 - 0 Ukraine

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Friday Jun 30 2006 08:00

Italy set up a semi-final meeting against Germany by cruising to a 3-0 win against Ukraine in Hamburg.

An early strike from Gianluca Zambrotta set the Azzurri on their way to a comfortable victory, before Luca Toni netted twice from close range during the second half.

Ukraine enjoyed a good spell in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, but were outclassed for much of the match.

Italy started well and Mauro Camoranesi scythed through the Ukraine defence in the fourth minute, only to place his shot wide of the target.

The deadlock was broken two minutes later when Zambrotta collected a lay-off from Francesco Totti in midfield, surged forward and smashed a low shot in to the bottom corner of Olexandr Shovkovskiy's goal.

The shot was powerfully struck, but Shovkovskiy should have been able to push it away after getting a hand to it.

The rest of the first half lacked entertainment, as Ukraine struggled to retain possession and create anything going forward.Gennaro Gattuso and Simone Perrotta controlled the midfield during the opening 45 minutes but that changed after the break.

Ukraine surged forward and Azzurri goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon produced a fine save to block an Oleh Gusev header.

A few minutes later Buffon had to be at his very best to deny Gusev in a one-on-one situation. The rebound fell to Maxym Kalinichenko, but Zambrotta got back to clear his shot off the line.

Italy suddenly raised their game and, with 59 minutes on the clock, Totti floated over a cross from the left and Toni stooped to head home from four yards.

Ukraine tried to hit back immediately, but Andriy Husin saw his header rebound to safety off the crossbar.

Marcello Lippi responded by replacing Andrea Pirlo and Camoranesi, with the more defensively minded Simone Barone and Massimo Oddo.

Tightening up at the back was obviously his objective, but a minute after the change he was rewarded with a third goal.

The excellent Zambrotta squared the ball along the six-yard box and Toni tapped it in to the unguarded goal to make certain of victory with 21 minutes still to play.

Live Commentary

  • 90
    FULL-TIME: ITALY 3-0 UKRAINE
  • 90
    It's been an easy night for Italy, who have dominated the game without having to play anywhere near their best.
  • 90
    Toni has a chance for his hat-trick as he races in to the box, but Shovkovskiy finally manages to do something right and prevents him getting a shot away.
  • 89
    Some lovely skills from Shevchenko who dances his way past two defenders and plays a one-two with Bielik on the edge of the box, only to be harshly penalised for a push.
  • 86
    Gusev puts over a cross from the right and, after losing his marker, Bielik flicks a header goalward. Easy save for Buffon.
  • 82
    Toni finds Totti on the edge of the Ukraine box. The Roma playmaker attempts to lift the ball over the goalkeeper, but gets it all wrong and only manages to dink it in to Shovkovskiy's hands.
  • 81
    Zambrotta tries his luck from distance, but his shot flies well wide of goal.
  • 80
    Both sides seem happy to settle for 3-0 now.
  • 79
    Ukraine have a free-kick 30 yards out. Shevchenko goes for goal, but it's straight down the middle and Buffon pushes it away.
  • 77
    Italy's midfield powerhouse Gattuso is given a rest, with Cristian Zaccardo the man to replace him.
  • 74
    Shevchenko plays the ball out wide for Vorobey and charges in to the box to meet the cross, only to plant his header over the crossbar.
  • 72
    Ukraine make their final change as Olexiy Bielik comes on for Milevskiy.
  • 69
    ITALY 3-0 UKRAINE Excellent play from Zambrotta, who surges in to the box and squares the ball for the unmarked TONI to tap home from close range.
  • 68
    Lippi makes a double substitution, bringing on Simone Barone and Massimo Oddo for Pirlo and Camoranesi.
  • 67
    Milevskiy is booked for a foul on Cannavaro in midfield.
  • 66
    Camoranesi bursts forward in to the Ukraine box and goes down under a challenge from Nesmachniy. The referee correctly says no penalty.
  • 65
    Ukraine are, understandably, throwing men forward now, but Italy look dangerous on the break.
  • 62
    Tymoschuk lofts a free-kick in to the Italian box and Husin rises to meet it with a looping header. It beats Buffon but rebounds to safety off the crossbar.
  • 59
    ITALY 2-0 UKRAINE Ukraine's early second-half pressure counts for nothing when Totti floats over a cross from the left and TONI stoops to head home from four yards out.
  • 58
    Buffon saves Italy again with a fine block from Gusev, who was clean through on goal. The rebound falls for Kalinichenko, but his shot hits a defender and rebounds to safety.
  • 56
    Totti is fouled on the edge of the Ukraine box. Pirlo chips the free-kick over the wall for Grosso to run on to. The full-back's first touch is poor and the ball runs through to the 'keeper.
  • 53
    Ukraine have started the second half really well and Cannavaro is forced to make a last-gasp interception to prevent Vorobey's cross reaching Shevchenko.
  • 50
    The corner is half cleared but when the ball comes back in Gusev finds himself unmarked at the far post. He makes good contact with his header, but Buffon produces a magnificent save to keep Italy ahead.
  • 49
    Good play from Shevchenko releases Kalinichenko on the left wing and he fires over a dangerous cross that Barzagli has to put behind for a corner.
  • 46
    The Ukraine defence go missing and Toni finds himself through on goal. He has the option of squaring the ball to Totti but opts to shoot, only to drag his shot wide.
  • 46
    Italy get the second half underway.
  • 45
    HALF-TIME: ITALY 1-0 UKRAINE
  • 45
    Rusol can't continue and is replaced by Vladyslav Vaschuk.
  • 45
    There's a break in play to allow Rusol to recieve treatment for a foot injury.
  • 43
    Shevchenko is harshly penalised for handball in the Italian box. Ukraine are starting to look slightly more threatening now.
  • 41
    Buffon finally has some work to do when Shevchenko's shot from 20 yards out is deflected. The Italian keeper gets down quickly to make the save.
  • 40
    Again Perrotta dives in an attempt to win a free-kick close to the Ukraine area and again the referee says no. The Belgian official should have reached for a yellow card that time.
  • 39
    Perrotta goes down easily looking for a free-kick 25 yards from the Ukraine goal, but the referee waves play on.
  • 37
    Ukraine win a free-kick 20 yards out on the left wing, but Tymoschuk's delivery isn't great and Italy clear.
  • 35
    Shevchenko fouls Perrotta 30 yards from the Ukraine goal. Pirlo fires over a dangerous free-kick, but Andriy Husin gets up well to head clear.
  • 34
    Anatoliy Tymoschuk has Ukraine's first shot, but his long-range effort is well wide of Gianluigi Buffon's goal.
  • 32
    Neat passing between Totti and Perrotta sets the Italians going forward again, but a thundering challenge from Rusol on Perrotta brings a swift end to the move.
  • 30
    Perrotta wins the ball in the Ukraine box but Nesmachniy recovers well to regain possession and clear.
  • 28
    Ukraine finally enjoy a spell of possession in the Italian half and fire over two crosses in quick succession, but Shevchenko is unable to do anything with either.
  • 26
    Ukraine try to release Andriy Shevchenko with a long ball, but Andrea Barzagli gets across to deal with the danger.
  • 24
    Totti picks out Perrotta with a neat back heel in midfield, but the attack breaks down when Grosso fails to control the ball and it runs out of play.
  • 23
    The Ukraine defence fail to deal with a low cross in to the box, but neither Toni nor Perrotta can bring the ball under control and get a shot away.
  • 21
    Maxym Kalinichenko is shown a yellow card following a mis-timed challenge on Camoranesi 35 yards out. Andrea Pirlo wastes the free-kick.
  • 20
    Blokhin makes an attacking change by replacing Sviderskiy with Andriy Vorobey.
  • 19
    A rare attack from Ukraine comes to nothing as Gusev is unable to beat Grosso out on the right wing.
  • 18
    Simone Perrotta attempts to release Camoranesi with a ball played in behind the Ukraine defence. The keeper spots the danger and reacts quickly to claim the ball.
  • 16
    Vyacheslav Sviderskiy is booked for a foul on Luca Toni 30 yards from goal. Totti goes for goal from the free-kick, but his tame effort is easily saved by Shovkovskiy.
  • 14
    There's a break in play while Gennaro Gattuso receives treatment for a back injury.
  • 13
    Camoranesi makes another run forward from midfield, but his control lets him down and Andriy Nesmachniy is able to clear the danger.
  • 11
    Ukraine are struggling to get hold of the ball at the minute, with the Azzurri in total control.
  • 9
    Fabio Grosso tries to get forward on the left but Gusev gets across to clear.
  • 6
    ITALY 1-0 UKRAINE GIANLUCA ZAMBROTTA collects the ball from Totti in midfield, drives forward and smashes a low shot in to the bottom corner. Good finish, but Olexandr Shovkovskiy really should have saved it.
  • 4
    Camoranesi picks up the ball in his own half and surges forward to the edge of the Ukraine box. Unfortunately he can't find the finish to match his run and fires well wide of the target.
  • 2
    Oleh Gusev tries to get on the end of a pass in the Italian area, but can't control the ball and it rolls away for a goal-kick.
  • 1
    Ukraine get the match underway
  • 0
    Ukraine boss Oleg Blokhin has selected Artem Milevskiy in place of injured striker Andriy Voronin. Andriy Rusol and Vyacheslav Sviderskiy return to the starting line-up after suspension.
  • 0
    Andrea Barzagli starts alongside Fabio Cannavaro in the centre of Italy's defence, with Alessandro Nesta injured and Marco Materazzi suspended.
  • 0
    Azzurri coach Marcello Lippi has recalled Francesco Totti and Mauro Camoranesi to his starting line-up in place of Alessandro Del Piero and Alberto Gilardino.
  • 0
    Italy take on Ukraine in Hamburg for the right to face Germany in the semi-finals of the World Cup.

Statistics

Italy
Shots on target 6
Shots off target 4
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 15
Offsides 2
Corners 1

Ukraine
Shots on target 6
Shots off target 7
Shots off bar/post 1
Fouls 31
Offsides 2
Corners 3

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