Ukraine back on track
19 Jun 2006 - 19:29:48
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- Ukraine back on track
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 Korea Republic 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.