Saudi Arabia 0 - 4 Ukraine

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Monday Jun 19 2006 05:00

Ukraine bounced back from their thrashing against Spain five days earlier to cruise to a 4-0 win against a poor Saudi Arabia side in Hamburg.

The victory leaves Oleg Blokhin's side on course to qualify for the last 16 of the competition, a situation that seemed highly unlikely after their 4-0 defeat against the Spaniards.

It took Ukraine only four minutes to break the deadlock when the outstanding Maxym Kalinichenko's corner was bundled home by Andriy Rusol, the ball appearing to come off the Dnipro defender's knee.

It was one-way traffic and in the 13th minute Ukraine almost made it 2-0 when Andriy Shevchenko's header was cleared off the line by Ahmed Dokhi.

Having seen France dominate their match against South Korea on Sunday and still end up with only a point, Ukraine went in search of a second goal and with Serhiy Rebrov and Shevchenko reunited in attack, it was only a matter of time until they grabbed it.

After several near misses the goal came in spectacular fashion nine minutes before the interval. Rebrov's fantastic 35-yard drive deceived the hapless Saudi Arabia keeper Mabrouk Zaid before nestling in the back of the net.

It was no more than Ukraine deserved as they controlled the opening 45 minutes virtually from referee Graham Poll's first whistle.

Saudi Arabia were lucky to be only two goals behind at the interval after producing a dire first-half display, but within 40 seconds of the restart they conceded a third goal.

Kalinichenko's pinpoint free-kick found Shevchenko and the striker glanced a simple header home.

It was embarrassingly easy for Ukraine at times as they strolled through the second period seemingly content to save themselves for tougher tasks later on in the tournament.

They did add a fourth goal with six minutes left when Kalinichenko, who also hit the crossbar earlier in the second period, had the simple task of stroking the ball into an empty net after Shevchenko had unselfishly slipped a pass into his path.

Ukraine face Tunisia in their final Group H game on Friday and are now favourites to qualify for the last 16, while Saudi Arabia will be hoping to keep the score respectable in their match against Spain.

Live Commentary

  • 90
    FULL TIME: SAUDI ARABIA 0-4 UKRAINE.
  • 90
    It's been embarrassingly easy for Ukraine at times, but they're back on course to reach the last 16 after this one-sided affair.
  • 90
    Kalinichenko almost adds a fifth but lifts his shot from the edge of the area over the crossbar.
  • 89
    Vyacheslav Sviderskiy is booked for sliding in to Yaser Al-Kahtani, another soft booking.
  • 88
    Milevskiy is lucky not to be booked after throwing himself to the ground inside the penalty area.
  • 86
    Shevchenko, job done, makes way for Artem Milevskiy.
  • 84
    SAUDI ARABIA 0-4 UKRAINE. Shevchenko glides down the left and unselfishly guides the ball to KALINICHENKO who has no trouble netting.
  • 83
    In contrast Ukraine have bounced back well from their drubbing against Spain.
  • 81
    Quite how Saudi Arabia came within a minute of beating Tunisia in their first game is a mystery on this display.
  • 79
    Ukraine take off Voronin and bring on Andriy Husin.
  • 78
    The match has died a death since Shevchenko's goal but Ukraine will be delighted with the three points.
  • 77
    The Saudis make their final change - all-time leading goalscorer Al-Jaber for Mohammed Noor.
  • 77
    Kalinichenko picks up a silly booking for hauling back Hussein Sulimani.
  • 75
    Kariri pulls Shevchenko back and is handed a final warning by Poll after being booked two minutes earlier.
  • 74
    Kalinichenko's shot is easily saved by Zaid, who has endured a nightmare game.
  • 73
    Kariri becomes the third Saudi Arabia player to be booked, for kicking the ball away.
  • 71
    Ukraine bring on Dnipro's Ruslan Rotan for Rebrov.
  • 70
    Ukraine turn on the style with some crisp passing that ends with Zaid racing off his line to claim the ball.
  • 69
    Shevchenko almost wriggles free inside the area but is eventually crowded out.
  • 68
    The injured duo are able to continue after a lengthy stoppage.
  • 66
    Voronin and Zaid both require treatment after a mid-air collision.
  • 65
    Kalinichenko, who has had a great game, tries his luck with a fierce drive from a tight angle that hits the top of the bar and goes out for a goal kick.
  • 64
    Saud Kariri's long-range effort is poor and dribbles well wide.
  • 63
    Ukraine seem quite content with three goals and appear to be saving themselves for Friday's final group match against Tunisia.
  • 61
    The match has entered a lull as the Saudis try to grab a consolation goal.
  • 59
    The Saudis are having more possession - but Ukraine seem content to let them have the ball as they take a breather.
  • 58
    Ukraine are over-complicating things as the pace of the match eases.
  • 56
    Omar Al-Ghamdi falls over inside the area and is booked for diving, although he insists he slipped on the greasy turf.
  • 55
    Saudi Arabia make two changes - Abdulaziz Khathran coming on for Dokhi and Malek Mouath replacing Ameen.
  • 53
    Gusev tries his luck twice in quick succession, one with his left foot and one with his right, but he fails to add to Ukraine's goal tally.
  • 52
    The Spain players must be looking forward to playing the Saudis on Friday - even with a reserve side out they should win by a hatful.
  • 50
    Kalinichenko's pinpoint free-kicks are causing the slipshod Saudi defence all sorts of problems.
  • 48
    If Ukraine fancy it they could win by a landslide - Saudi Arabia are awful.
  • 46
    SAUDI ARABIA 0-3 UKRAINE. SHEVCHENKO glances a header home from Kalinichenko's free-kick - too easy for the new Chelsea man.
  • 46
    Ukraine get the second half underway - no changes by either side at the break.
  • 45
    HALF TIME: SAUDI ARABIA 0-2 UKRAINE.
  • 45
    Saudi Arabia are lucky to be only two goals behind at the interval after producing a dire first-half display.
  • 44
    The lively Voronin fires a shot wide after Hamad Al-Montashari's slip had presented him with a golden chance to make it 3-0.
  • 43
    Rebrov tries his luck from distance once again but this time his shot drifts just wide.
  • 41
    Dokhi is booked for a clumsy challenge on Nesmachniy which leaves both players requiring treatment.
  • 41
    As things stand and barring some shock results, Ukraine are on course to join Spain from this group in the last 16.
  • 39
    Rebrov has been more impressive than Shevchenko so far.
  • 37
    It's no more than Ukraine deserve, they've been in complete control from virtually the first whistle.
  • 36
    SAUDI ARABIA 0-2 UKRAINE. A fantastic strike by REBROV, his 35-yard drive deceiving Zaid and careering into the net.
  • 34
    Nesmachniy's run down the left-hand channel ends with the Dynamo Kiev full-back lofting his cross straight in to Zaid's grateful arms.
  • 33
    The Saudis are second to every ball and their passing is very poor.
  • 31
    Rebrov and Shevchenko are combining well in attack as Ukraine maintain their stranglehold on the match.
  • 29
    Voronin charges down the right again - Blokhin seems to have identified the left side of the Saudi defence as a weakness.
  • 27
    An incisive Ukraine move ends disappointingly - Voronin slicing his shot horribly wide.
  • 26
    Hamad Al-Montashari fires into the side-netting as the Saudis launch a rare attack.
  • 25
    Having seen France dominate a match and still end up with only a point against South Korea last night, Ukraine will be keen to add a second goal as soon as possible.
  • 24
    Such has been Ukraine's domination they could easily be four goals ahead already.
  • 22
    Andriy Nesmachniy is the first player to go into Graham Poll's notebook for a foul on Mohammed Ameen.
  • 21
    All Ukraine's attacks are going down the right-hand side as Shevchenko fires another effort straight at Zaid.
  • 20
    Gusev leaves the pitch briefly for treatment on an eye injury.
  • 19
    Ukraine look to be in no mood to let the Saudis back in to the match.
  • 18
    Shevchenko mistimes his run as he looks to get on the end of Andriy Voronin's throughball and Zaid is able to claim the ball.
  • 16
    The Saudis just can't get going as Ukraine dictate the pace of the game.
  • 15
    The ball was almost over the line but Dokhi got his clearance in just in time - Ukraine are unlucky not to be two goals ahead though.
  • 13
    It's all Ukraine as they win three successive corners and from the third Shevchenko's header is cleared off the line by Ahmed Dokhi.
  • 12
    Oleh Gusev's darting run ends with the Saudis conceding another corner.
  • 11
    It's been a vey lively start as play swings from end to end.
  • 10
    Rebrov has made a lively start as he charges into the Saudi area before tumbling to the ground - the referee waves play on.
  • 9
    The goal has lifted Ukraine's spirits as Rebrov's long ball is caught by Zaid, at full stretch.
  • 8
    It's the perfect start for Ukraine as they look to get back on course after their Spanish thrashing.
  • 6
    The ball seemed to come off the Dnipro defender's knee - certainly not a classic but they all count.
  • 4
    SAUDI ARABIA 0-1 UKRAINE. From Maxym Kalinichenko's corner, ANDRIY RUSOL bundles the ball home.
  • 3
    Mabrouk Zaid concedes a soft corner as the Saudis start nervously.
  • 2
    Ukraine surely must be better than in their heavy defeat to Spain.
  • 1
    Saudi Arabia get the match underway.
  • 0
    Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin makes four changes to his starting line-up with Serhiy Rebrov partnering Andriy Shevchenko in attack.
  • 0
    A thigh injury means Saudi captain Sami Al-Jaber is again on the substitute's bench while Mohammed Ameen comes in for Nawaf Al-Temyat in midfield.
  • 0
    The Saudis drew 2-2 with Tunisia in their first game while Ukraine were crushed 4-0 by Spain.
  • 0
    Saudi Arabia meet Ukraine in Hamburg with both sides looking to join probable Group H winners Spain the in the last 16.

Statistics

Saudi Arabia
Shots on target 0
Shots off target 6
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 24
Offsides 0
Corners 2

Ukraine
Shots on target 9
Shots off target 10
Shots off bar/post 1
Fouls 21
Offsides 0
Corners 6

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