Ukraine hit six to secure play-off
Wednesday 14 October 2009
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Andriy Shevchenko (left) opened the scoring (©Getty Images)
Ukraine sealed their FIFA World Cup play-off place in style with six unanswered goals in Andorra.
November tie
Thanks to their 1-0 defeat of England on Saturday, Ukraine knew another victory tonight would ensure them second place in Group 6 regardless of Croatia's result in Kazakhstan. Oleksiy Mykhaylychenko's side led at the break through Andriy Shevchenko and added five more in the last half-hour to go into Monday's draw and November's two-legged tie with confidence.
Shevchenko strikes
Mykhaylychenko fielded an attacking lineup and on 15 minutes Serhiy Nazarenko hit the post. Andorra were pinned back, threatening only briefly through Cristian Martinez, and in the 22nd minute Shevchenko claimed his sixth goal in qualifying, turning in Taras Mikhalik's header.
Goal flurry
The visitors took a pragmatic approach once their lead was secured but doubled their advantage just past the hour through Oleh Gusev. With 20 minutes remaining Andorra's Ildefons Lima turned Nazarenko's cross into his own net and Mykhaylychenko then took the opportunity to make some substitutions. Defender Yaroslav Rakitskiy opened his international account with ten minutes left and there was still time for Olexandr Aliyev to set up substitute Yevgen Seleznov and Andriy Yarmolenko for further goals.
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