World Cup play-off: Ukraine 1 Germany 1- match report

KYIV, November 10(DSA) - World Cup play-offs first leg match on Saturday:
Ending the first leg game of the World Cup play-offs Ukrainians complicated the situation for themselves. Now their chances to reach World Cup finals in Korea and Japan look worse than those of Germans as it can be hardly believed that Ukraine will be able to beat Germany in Dortmund on November 14.
Both teams surprised with fielded lineups. In Ukrainian squad the most unexpected was Spartak Moscow goalkeeper Maxym Levytsky's appearance in the starting line. It was surprising because he just recently recovered after an injury, had a couple of unsuccessful matches in Russian championship and the Champions League. From the other hand Dynamo Kyiv keeper Vitaliy Reva was deservedly 'number one' in the club and the national side not giving rise to doubt with his performance. Ukrainian national side's coach Valeriy Lobanovsky didn't risk to transform attacking line where Sergiy Rebrov and Andriy Vorobey tra***ionally stepped on. Andriy Shevchenko was given in the lineup a place of left winger.
As for German side they gave two pieces of surprise: Marko Rehmer's appearance who had been said to be injured and fielding in the starting line the first dark-skinned player in German football history Gerald Asamoah who stayed out of the squad veteran strikers Oliver Bierhoff and Carsten Jancker.
Just two minutes after the start Vorobey should have opened the score for Ukrainians when he was put through with only Oliver Kahn to beat. The striker did everything right but the ball after his deliberated kick hit a far post. Five minutes later Rebrov was close when his 20-metre drive came just wide. In the 19th minute Hennadiy Zubov of Shakhtar Donetsk corrected the partners' mistakes netting in an opener after Shevchenko's reflected effort from a free kick.
The visitors conceding a goal did not become confused but just the opposite they turned up collective pressing. In the 27th minute the guests had simply incredible spell: within a minute they twice hit a bar following corners from the right flank. So it was quite logical when five minutes later Michael Ballack's pushed home from a close range in a commotion at Levytsky's goal after a cross from free kick from the same right flank. The game got even and before the interval there was created just one more clear chance. Shevchenko came one- to-one on the rivals' goal but Kahn diving to the striker's feet denied him of scoring.
The second half was a bit more nervous and less spectacular. Levytsky saved after Marko Rehmer's header seven minutes after the restart. When Sergiy Shyshchenko of Metalurg Donetsk replaced inexpressive Rebrov ten minutes into the second half he missed a good opportunity soon driving over the target. Later Oliver Kahn spectacularly stopped Shevchenko's powerful shot from a 22-metre free kick.
So the game came to its end- a draw that was quite a logical result.

Theo dailysoccer.com


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