Substitute Sheva breaks Belarus resistance
Saturday 6 September 2008
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Andriy Shevchenko scored the last-gasp penalty in Lvov (©AFP)
Andriy Shevchenko came off the bench to convert a penalty deep into stoppage time and bank maximum points for Ukraine against their neighbours in FIFA World Cup qualifying Group 6.
Chukhlei handball
Belarus looked on course to secure a draw until three minutes into second-half added time when Andrei Chukhlei was penalised for handball and substitute Shevchenko made no mistake from the spot to the delight of the home fans in Lvov.
Visitors' chances
Belarus surprised their hosts by winning the majority of the possession in the opening period. Oleg Strakhanovich and Vitali Bulyga tested Andriy Pyatov early in the game, with the Ukraine goalkeeper being equal to both shots, while Aleksandr Kulchiy twice went close from distance. By contrast, Olexiy Mykhaylychenko's men were subdued before the interval although Maxym Kalynychenko might have done better with a half-chance in front of Yuri Zhevnov's goal.
Aliyev influence
Mykhaylychenko introduced FC Dynamo Kyiv playmaker Olexandr Aliyev after the break for his international debut and he added creativity, yet Belarus continued to defend stoutly thanks to influential defenders Dmitry Verkhovtsov and Yegor Filipenko. Halfway through the second half, Aliyev was sent through on goal by Serhiy Nazarenko but Zhevnov won the duel against the young midfielder, seemingly to earn a point – until Shevchenko struck in the dying seconds.
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