Nazarenko strike boosts Ukraine bid
Saturday 10 October 2009
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Serhiy Nazarenko provided the telling strike for Ukraine as they moved second in FIFA World Cup qualifying Group 6 with a 1-0 victory against ten-man England which ended the perfect record of Fabio Capello's team in the section.
Croatia overtaken
Ukraine had the chance to prise the play-off spot in the section from Croatia, with a final match in Andorra to come, and were in the ascendancy when England, already group winners, had goalkeeper Robert Green sent off inside 15 minutes, conceding a penalty in the process. Andriy Shevchenko missed the spot-kick but FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk forward Nazarenko did give Ukraine victory in the city where he plays his domestic football.
Ferdinand mistake
England's hopes of extending their winning streak to nine consecutive matches suffered a significant setback when Rio Ferdinand's slip allowed Artem Milevskiy to run clear on goal only for his progress to be checked in the area by a challenge from Green. The England custodian was dismissed but replacement David James did not concede from the spot-kick as Shevchenko swept low against a post.
Deflected winner
Oleksiy Mykhaylychenko's charges continued unperturbed and opened the scoring after 29 minutes when Nazarenko's shot deflected past James off Ashley Cole. Frank Lampard almost levelled immediately, firing just wide of the far post, before Milevskiy's volley thumped against the upright. The second half was less frenetic with Yaroslav Rakitskiy's 30-metre drive expertly diverted away by James while the goalkeeper also denied Andriy Yarmolenko with his legs. Wayne Rooney drilled a late England chance wide but the home side had done enough, and victory at the Estadi Comunal on Wednesday will secure Ukraine a play-off berth.
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