Nazarenko leads the way for Ukraine
Wednesday 10 September 2008
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Serhiy Nazarenko struck twice as Ukraine continued their bright start to FIFA World Cup qualifying with a 3-1 victory away to Group 6 rivals Kazakhstan. Andriy Shevchenko scored the other goal for Oleksiy Mykhaylychenko's team to add to the last-gasp penalty he struck in their opening 1-0 win over Belarus last weekend.
Ostapenko threat
This was a second defeat in five days for a Kazakhstan side left with three points from as many matches, yet they made an encouraging start in Almaty. FC Alma-Ata striker Sergey Ostapenko could have scored twice in the opening half-hour, first with a header from a Ruslan Baltiev cross that flew just wide after ten minutes and then a shot saved by Ukraine keeper Andriy Pyatov. At the other end, Shevchenko fired over from an acute angle before Yevgen Seleznov was foiled by Kazakh custodian David Loria. However, Ukraine did get their noses in front moments before the break when Nazarenko headed in the rebound after Shevchenko had hit the crossbar.
Precise finish
Shevchenko doubled the lead in the 53rd minute with a precise finish from the edge of the box but Arno Pijpers' home side kept battling and reduced the deficit in the 70th minute when Sergey Skorykh fed Ostapenko who finished into the far corner. That was Ukraine's cue to come again and after Loria had denied Seleznov in a one-on-one, Nazarenko made sure of the win ten minutes from time when he claimed his second goal of the night with an effort from 15 metres.
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