Ukrainian class tells in Minsk

Ukraine took a giant step towards the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship with a polished display against Belarus.

Away win
The visitors won their play-off first leg 4-0 in Minsk to leave themselves well-placed to take one of five European places at the finals in Chinese Taipei next year. The second leg is on 17 December in Donetsk and Gennady Lysenchuk will have every confidence his team can add to their tally after today's goals from Fedir Pylypiv, Serhiy Sytin, Vitaliy Brunko and Ihor Moskvychov.

Good start
Both teams started brightly in what was the first competitive meeting between the two sides. Belarus goalkeeper Ihar Kirkizh did well to deny Serhiy Koridze before Olexiy Popov denied Alexandr Chernik at the other end. However, the deadlock was broken in the seventh minute when Pylypiv scored from eleven metres with a shot that went in off the left post.

Three more goals
There was to be no more scoring in the first half but there was only one team in the second period. Two minutes after the restart, Sytin struck the goal of the match with a fine drive after an excellent passing move. Brunko then made victory safe in the 33rd minute before Moskvychov wrapped up proceedings just before the final whistle.

Tough match
Aware that his team, who finished runners-up at the 2003 UEFA European Futsal Championship, had not had things all their own way, Lysenchuk said: "Belarus have progressed quite well in the last four years. Right now they are a very strong team, but we knew what to expect. We closed them down and that's why we won."