The New Zealand Herald
Thursday November 18, 2004
Soccer: Ukraine stun Turkey in World Cup qualifiers
18.11.2004 2.00 pm
LONDON – Andriy Shevchenko scored twice as Ukraine won 3-0 in Turkey on
Wednesday to put them in with a great chance of qualifying for the soccer
World Cup for the first time.
Their impressive victory over the 2002 semifinalists was the highlight of
the evening’s 13 European qualifiers, which also included good wins for
Portugal, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro and the Czech Republic.
Ukraine have yet to qualify for a major tournament since gaining
independence in 1991 but can count themselves unlucky, having lost in the
playoffs for the 1998 and 2002 World Cups and Euro 2000.
Now they are well placed to advance directly from Group Two after moving to
11 points, five clear of the Turks, Albania and Denmark.
Midfielder Oleg Gusev put Ukraine ahead after nine minutes, Shevchenko
doubled the lead and the AC Milan forward sealed an emphatic victory with an
acrobatic finish a minute from the end.
Shevchenko’s Milan team mate Jon Dahl Tomasson also found the net twice to
put Denmark ahead in Tbilisi but Georgia hit back for a 2-2 draw to stay in
contention on five points.
European champions Greece are also on five after collecting their first win
of the campaign, 3-1 at home to Kazakhstan.
Striker Angelos Haristeas, scorer of the Euro 2004 final winner, grabbed the
first two and Costas Katsouranis completed the win.
It was also a night to remember for captain Theodoros Zagorakis, who became
the first Greek to reach 100 international caps.
Portugal made it 20 goals in five games as a 5-0 away rout of Luxembourg
took them clear at the top of Group Three.
Pauleta scored two and there were also goals for Luis Boa Morte, Cristiano
Ronaldo and Maniche as Portugal, who thumped Russia 7-1 in their previous
game, moved to 13 points, three ahead of Slovakia.
Russia rebounded well with a 4-0 home victory over Estonia that left both
countries on seven points.
Russia took command with three goals in nine minutes midway through the
first half from Andrei Karayka, Marat Izmailov and Dmitry Sychev, and Dmitry
Loskov added a 67th-minute penalty.
Latvia are also on seven points after a 3-1 win in Liechtenstein.
Romania’s flying start in group one was halted in Yerevan where they were
held to a 1-1 draw by Armenia, the home side’s first point of the campaign.
Romania, hit hard by injuries and suspensions, led with a 29th-minute
Ciprian Marica goal but Armenia upped their game and were rewarded when
Karen Dokhoyan equalised midway through the second half.
The result enabled the Netherlands to join Romania at the top on 10 points
after goals by Philip Cocu, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder beat Andorra
3-0 in Barcelona.
The Czech Republic are a point back on nine, alongside Finland, after two
goals in the last three minutes secured a 2-0 win in Macedonia.
Substitute Vratislav Lokvenc and Jan Koller both netted headers to make it
three wins in a row for the Euro 2004 semifinalists.
Israel joined Ireland and France at the top of Group Four on eight points
after a 2-1 victory in Cyprus.
An 86th-minute Avi Nimni goal sealed Israel’s win 11 minutes after their
goalkeeper Nir Davidovich had brilliantly saved a Michael Constantinou
penalty.
Belgium have qualified for the last six World Cup tournaments but that run
is in jeopardy after losing 2-0 at home to Serbia and Montenegro to remain
on one point after three games in group seven.
Goals by Zvonimir Vukic (7) and Mateja Kezman (60) took the Serbians clear
at the top on 10 points.
Lithuania are second on eight after scraping a 1-0 win at San Marino.
– REUTERS