Andorra 0-6 Ukraine: Six of the best seal progress
Three goals in as many minutes late on put some shine on Ukraine's performance
as they hammered Andorra 6-0 to finish as runners-up to England in World Cup
qualifying Group Six.
Andriy Shevchenko, Oleg Gusev, Yevgen Khacherdi, Yaroslav Rakitskyy, Yevgen
Seleznov and Andriy Yarmolenko shared the goals in Andorra La Vella to earn
Ukraine a place in the play-offs next month. The victory maintained their one-point advantage in the group over Croatia, who
were 2-1 winners in Kazakhstan.
Former AC Milan and Chelsea striker Shevchenko gave the visitors the lead after
22 minutes, rifling home as the ball bobbled around in the area, but it was the
one piece of quality in a poor opening spell.
Ukraine always looked in control of the contest against the group's bottom
side, but some sloppy play almost cost them dearly. Goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov spilled a tame shot from Marc Bernaus but scrambled
back just in time to stop the ball crossing the line.
In the second half Ukraine looked far more secure at the back against an
Andorra side who offered plenty of fight if little else. Andorra did, however, create their best chance of the game when Genis Garcia
saw a point-blank header saved well by Pyatov in the visiting goal.
Ukraine responded, with Gusev doubling their lead on the hour mark, and the
resistance from Andorra began to wane when Khacherdi added another nine minutes
later.
The visitors took full advantage with Rakitskyy, Seleznov and Yarmolenko all
rattling in strikes during a frenetic three-minute spell as the floodgates
opened. And the final whistle could not come quick enough for the 800 fans who had
turned up to watch the principality in action.
Ukraine finish the qualifying campaign with six wins from 10 matches, while
hapless Andorra failed to pick up a single point, conceding 39 goals.