Wednesday, 14th June 2006
Olé, Olé, Olé, Olé
Spain vs Ukraine
Leipzig
Previous Encounters:
Spain and Ukraine have played each other twice before, in qualifying for Euro 2004.
Although Ukraine didn't lose to Spain, they didn't qualify for the Euro
2004 finals tournament in Portugal either. Spain made it to the finals, after a play-off
with Norway.
The Match:
Spain started out with the early attacking moves against Ukraine, in Leipzig; Sergio Ramos
making some good runs out of the right back position.
After just twelve minutes Spain's surprise inclusion, Marcos Senna
from Villarreal, earned the corner that lead to Spain's first goal; after his blazing shot
was tipped over the bar by Olexandr Shovkovskiy.
In the goal-mouth scramble that followed, Xabi Alonso was credited
with the touch that sent the ball towards the back of the net.
Four minutes later, Spain had doubled their lead from another
set-piece; when the Ukraine wall jumped and Andriy Rusol, who had just been booked, helped
David Villa's free-kick past Shovkovskiy.
Ukraine, having warmed up too slow, struggled to get good movement
going between the holding midfield players and the front-runners; Shevchenko needing to
come deeper himself to get a touch on the ball.
Then a bad defensive header fell to Shevchenko who released Andriy
Voronin, three minutes before half-time, but again the team in yellow were flagged for
offside.
Half-time: (2:0).
Two minutes after the break, Massimo Busacca, the Swiss referee, dealt
a knockout blow to the Ukrainians; by awarding the first penalty of the 2006 World Cup
Finals and sending off Vladislav Vashchuk. Fernando Torres had already shot before he fell
and didn't really seem to be pulled down.
David Villa stepped up to score Spain's third; although Shovkovskiy
dived the right way and maybe just brushed the ball with his finger tips.
With a comfortable lead established, Luis Aragones could afford to
make a double substitution early and warm-up Raul.
On the hour, Ukraine's best chance fell to Voronin; who controlled the
ball on his thight before releasing a shot just wide of the far post, from the right edge
of the area.
Substitute, Serhiy Rebrov also wasted a golden opportunity when right
in front of goal, by carelessly shooting over the bar.
Spain weren't prepared to just sit on the three-goal lead as, ten
minutes from time, Carles Puyol won the ball deep in his own half; laid the ball off and
ran down the left, to head the return into the path of Fernando Torres.
Oleg Blokhin, the Ukraine trainer, just smiled from the bench and
shook his head; as if to say: "What can I do here?"
At least Ukraine have Saudi Arabia next.
Final Score:
Spain 4 - Ukraine 0
 Goalscorers:
1:0 Xabi Alonso (13)
2:0 David Villa (17)
3:0 David Villa (48pen)
4:0 Fernando Torres (81)
Teams
Spain: (Captain Iker Casillas)
1 Iker Casillas; 3 Mariano Pernia, 5 Carles Puyol, 15 Sergio Ramos,
22 Ibanez Pablo; 8 Hernandez Xavi, 14 Xabi Alonso, 16 Marcos Senna;
9 Fernando Torres, 11 Luis Garcia, 21 David Villa.
Ukraine: (Captain Andriy
Shevchenko)
1 Olexandr Shovkovskiy; 2 Andriy Nesmachniy, 5 Volodymyr Yezerskiy, 6 Andriy Rusol, 17
Vladislav Vashchuk; 4 Anatoliy Tymoschuk, 9 Oleg Gusev, 14 Andriy Gusin, 21 Ruslan Rotan;
7 Andriy Shevchenko, 10 Andriy Voronin.
Referee:
Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)
 Substitutions:
46 Mins (Ukraine) 8 Oleg Shelayev on for 9 Oleg Gusev
46 Mins (Ukraine) 16 Andriy Vorobey on for 14 Andriy Gusin
55 Mins (Spain) 7 Gonzalez Raul on for 21 David Villa
55 Mins (Spain) - 6 David Albelda on for 14 Xabi Alonso
63 Mins (Ukraine) - 11 Serhiy Rebrov on for 21 Ruslan Rotan
77 Mins (Spain) - 18 Francesc Fabregas on for 11 Luis Garcia
 2 Yellow
Cards:
17 Mins - Andriy Rusol (Ukraine)
53 Mins - Volodymyr Yezerskiy (Ukraine)
 1 Red Card:
47 Mins - Vladislav Vashchuk (Ukraine)
2006 World Cup Finals - Knockout Stage.
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