Ukraine overcome Yugoslavia

Ukraine won 2-0 against Yugoslavia in the opening game of the LG Cup, a four-team friendly tournament taking place in Moscow.

Fitting tribute
Leonid Buryak's side, who were wearing black armbands in tribute to FC Dynamo Kyiv coach Valery Lobanovskyi who died on Monday, overcame an under-strength Yugoslavia side despite being without Milan AC striker Andriy Shevchenko.

Fumbled cross
Ukraine opened the scoring against the run of play in the 27th minute when Yugoslavia goalkeeper Dragoslav Evric fumbled a high cross and defender Serhiy Fyodorov knocked in the loose ball. Substitute Volodymyr Musolitin doubled the lead in the 78th minute following a quick counterattack, rounding Evric before firing into an empty goal.

Missed penalty
Ukraine keeper Olexander Shovkovsky made a fine diving save from a close-range strike by Sasa Ilic in the 16th minute and then stopped two fierce free-kicks from Sinisa Mihaijlovic. Yugoslavia substitute Darko Kovacevic missed a golden chance to equalise nine minutes after the interval when the Real Sociedad striker smashed a penalty - awarded for handball - high over the crossbar.

Unsavoury scenes
The game was tarnished by an unseemly altercation after the final whistle which saw players from both sides become involved in a brawl. Lithuanian official Paulius Malzinskas showed the red card to Yugoslavia captain Sinisa Mihaijlovic and Ukraine substitute Serhiy Skachenko before ordering the teams off the pitch.

Sunday final
Ukraine will now meet the winners of the match between Russia and Belarus, who were playing later on Friday, in Sunday's final. Russia are the only team in the tournament to be taking part in the FIFA World Cup finals where they are drawn in Group H with Japan, Belgium and Tunisia.