No rest for Ukraine's best

By Igor Lynnik

The Ukrainian Premier League season has yet to restart following the winter break, but there has been plenty of action for Ukrainian teams in international tournaments.

Major step
The national side took another step towards the finals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany with a 2-0 win in Albania on 9 February. The victory left them six points clear at the top of qualifying Group 2, although second-placed Greece have a game in hand.

Average display
Coach Oleh Blokhin said: "It wasn't our best performance in Tirana, but it is obvious why - we've never played competitive matches so early in the year. The players had only one goal, to take three points, and I am delighted we did what we had to."

German target
Ukraine have six games left in their qualifying campaign, but with four of them on home soil, Blokhin's side must feel they are well-placed to reach their first major finals tournament. The trip to Denmark for their next qualifier on 30 March could prove crucial.

European stumbles
In club football, two of Ukraine's three UEFA Cup contenders were eliminated this week. FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk failed to take advantage of a 2-2 away draw and ended up losing 1-0 at home to ten-man FK Partizan to miss out on a place in the last 16.

Shakhtar triumph
FC Dynamo Kyiv paid the price for a goalless draw at home to Villarreal CF, losing 2-0 in the return, leaving FC Shakhtar Donetsk - who made light of a stalemate in their first leg against FC Schalke 04 by winning 1-0 in Germany - as Ukraine's sole representatives in European competition.

Long slumber
Shakhtar will also be the centre of attention when the Ukrainian Premier League resumes in March. They currently lead rivals Dynamo by one point at the top of the table. Shakhtar will also be contesting the semi-finals of the Ukrainian Cup along with Dynamo, Dnipro and FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih.